Domestic Violence Knows No Borders

Domestic violence is often spoken about in hushed tones. It’s treated as a private tragedy instead of a public emergency. But for Dr. Kathryn Jacob, CEO of The Archway (formerly SafeHaven of Tarrant County), silence is the most dangerous companion abuse can have. With more than a decade at the organization, and a doctorate focused on the reformability of men who use violence, Dr. Jacob has built a career around challenging myths, strengthening systems, and protecting those in crisis.

Dallas Weekly sat down with Dr. Jacob to explore how The Archway serves survivors across North Texas, why public perception still lags behind reality, and what communities like Dallas, Arlington, and beyond can do to support victims year-round.

Not Just a County Issue

Though The Archway operates in Tarrant County, the organization’s work frequently crosses regional boundaries. Domestic violence victims often must relocate for safety, sometimes across cities or even across the state.

“We all work together,” Dr. Jacob explained. “Victims are the experts in their relationships. They know what they have to do to stay safe, and our job is to support, not instruct, them.”

As one of the state-designated domestic violence agencies, The Archway collaborates with its Dallas-based sister organizations, including The Family Place, to connect survivors with immediate safe shelter and long-term resources. Jacob likens the communication between agencies to an “underground railroad,” a quiet but coordinated network working to get victims to safety.

The Subtle and Harmful Ways Society Still Blames Victims

While society has moved past some outdated questions like “Why didn’t he/she leave?”, victim blaming continues in more insidious forms.

“People don’t realize how subtle victim blaming can be,” Dr. Jacob said. “Statements like ‘Are you sure?’ or ‘But he seems so nice’ can silence a survivor forever.”

These reactions are especially common when the listener personally knows the abuser. “It’s hard for people to reconcile a charming friend with a violent partner. But victims feel the impact immediately.”

To counter this, The Archway runs its Start By Believing campaign every October for Domestic Violence Awareness Month, though the message echoes year-round. The campaign includes a simple guide for individuals who suspect someone in their life is experiencing abuse: how to listen, how to support, and what not to say.

Changing Systems From the Inside: The Courtroom as a Tool for Justice

One of the most urgent challenges in domestic violence intervention is helping jurors understand survivor behavior. Jurors may be left wondering: why victims return to abusive partners, why they may delay reporting, or why their testimony might appear inconsistent.

Dr. Jacob spent years testifying as an expert witness in felony intimate partner violence cases. Her role was to explain the psychology behind survivor behavior in a way juries could understand.

“Juries often don’t like the victim,” she explained candidly. “But when someone comes in and explains why she didn’t call 911, why she went back, something clicks. That’s where myths get dismantled.”

To expand this impact statewide, The Archway launched the Expert Witness Guild, a cohort of trained experts available to testify for prosecutors or defense attorneys. “Dispelling myths during trial is where it really matters,” Jacob added. “That’s when lives are literally on the line.”

Why Offender Intervention Matters

Preventing domestic violence means more than protecting victims, it requires holding offenders accountable and reducing repeat violence.

The Archway’s Partner Abuse Intervention and Prevention Program (PAIP), known locally as PIP, works with individuals, primarily men, who have used violence in their relationships, usually those referred through probation.

“Keeping victims safe is essential, but ignoring offenders is irresponsible,” Jacob said. “This is a crime with extremely high recidivism. We can’t solve it unless we address the people causing the harm.”

PIP uses an 18-27 week group curriculum rooted in the Power & Control Model. The organization also hosts specialized groups, including programming for LGBTQ+ participants.

Jacob’s doctoral research explored whether offenders could learn to humanize their victims. Through restorative peace circles, she brought victims and offenders together (with strict safety protocols) to foster accountability and truth-telling. Results showed measurable increases in humanization, which is an early but promising step in reducing recidivism.

Victims, she said, often found the process “cathartic and empowering,” as it was the only environment outside of court where they had a protected space to speak freely.

“Start by Believing”: What Communities Must Do

When asked what readers should remember during Domestic Violence Awareness Month, Dr. Jacob offered three critical takeaways:

1. Domestic violence happens at the same rates across all races, cultures, and income levels.

Intervention methods may differ culturally, but the prevalence does not. “Some communities are simply more silent about it, but it’s there,” Jacob emphasized.

2. Believe survivors. Especially when they disclose strangulation or violence during pregnancy.

Strangulation is one of the strongest predictors of future homicide. After death by firearm and sharp object, it’s one of the three most common causes of death for pregnant women. And the leading cause of death for pregnant women in the U.S.? Homicide by their partner.

These realities cannot be ignored.

3. Carry and share the hotline number. 1-877-701-7233.

“You can name it something discreet in your phone,” she said. “But have it ready. You never know when someone will need it.”

The hotline is not only for victims, it’s for friends, family members, coworkers, and anyone seeking guidance.

Hope, Healing, and the Promise of Healthy Love

As our conversation wrapped, Dr. Jacob returned to the one message she hopes every reader will take with them:

“Healthy relationships are possible. We all deserve love that is safe, supportive, and humanizing.”

For communities across South Dallas and beyond, that means learning the signs, challenging harmful assumptions, listening without judgment, and being willing to help someone take their first step toward safety.

The Archway is steadily continuing the fight against domestic violence, even after Domestic Violence Awareness month ends. Check out their Resource Guide and Library here. For more ways you can get involved in The Archway’s mission to protect survivors and change misconceptions about domestic violence, give them a call at (817) 535-6462 visit their website at TheArchwayTX.org, email them at info@thearchwaytx.org, or visit their offices in-person at 1010 N. Center Street, Arlington, TX 76011.