Domestic violence is common in every community and affects all people. According to National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, more than 10 million adults in the United States experience domestic violence annually. One in four women and one in nine men experience sexual violence, physical violence, and/or stalking by an intimate partner during their lifetime. Attorney Jennifier (Jen) C. Smith, joins us to discuss these statistics, the cycle of violence, how to best support a survivor of domestic violence, and the role of education in prevention. 
 
Attorney Jennifier (Jen) C. Smith, is a graduate of the University of Detroit Mercy. She began her law practice as a legal aid attorney working exclusively with survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. During her time at legal aid, Jen obtained certification for the Dr. Jacquelyn C. Campbell Danger Assessment and assisted many survivors of domestic violence on their path to achieving independence and freedom. Jen is the former Treasurer for The Butterfly Collective, a nonprofit in Macomb County that’s mission is to bring awareness about the Domestic Violence epidemic in our world and to financially assist survivors of Domestic Violence as they begin to build a life on their own. Jen is also a board member for the WLAM -Macomb region.

Tanya A. Grillo (Grillo Law, PLLC) is a criminal defense attorney based in Macomb County, MI.  Ms. Grillo is the current Vice President of the Women Lawyers Association of Michigan, a Director at Large for the Women's Lawyers Association of Michigan, and a Past President - Women's Lawyers Association of Michigan; Macomb Region. From 2017-2018, she was the Regional Manager for the Michigan Indigent Defense Commission (MIDC) for Lapeer, Oakland, Macomb, and St. Clair counties and worked to reform the indigent defense system. Upon returning to private practice in 2019, Ms. Grillo has her work in indigent defense and was awarded the contract to manage the indigent defense systems for two metro-Detroit cities.  She is passionate about giving back to her community and profession and sits as the Chair of the Criminal Law Committee for the Macomb County Bar Association and an advocate for Friend of Foster Kids. Ms. Grillo received a Juris Doctorate from Thomas M. Cooley Law School and a bachelor's degree from the University of Central Florida.
 
Resources discussed during the podcast:
Domestic Violence Hotline – 800-799-7233
National Domestic Hotline chat - 24/7 hotline via text START to 88788
Michigan Coalition to End Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault – www.mcedsv.org
Shelters in the tri-county area:
·      Turning Point – Macomb County
·      Haven – Oakland County
·      First Step – Wayne County
·      Safe House Center – Washtenaw County
·      Blue Water – St. Clair County
·      Ava’s Place – Huron County
More resources available at www.michiganlegalhelp.org.

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