Domestic Violence: Telling Amy's Story

Domestic violence is a type of abuse. It involves injuring someone, usually a spouse or partner, but it can also be a parent, child or other family member.

Domestic violence is a serious problem. It is a common cause of injury. Victims may suffer physical injuries such as bruises or broken bones. They may suffer emotionally from depression, anxiety or social isolation.

It is hard to know exactly how common domestic violence is, because people often don't report it. There is no typical victim. It happens among people of all ages. It affects those of all levels of income and education.

Starting today, PBS stations across the country will be airing a special program called "Telling Amy's Story". It recounts the sad story about a woman who was killed by her husband back in 1991 in Pennsylvania. Many of her co-workers missed warning signs that could have saved Amy if someone had stepped forward.

Here is some information about the movie:

Telling Amy’s Story Hosted by actress and advocate Mariska Hargitay, and told by Detective Deirdri Fishel, Telling Amy’s Story follows the timeline of a domestic violence homicide that occurred on November 8, 2001.

Personal Perspectives The victim’s parents and co-workers, law enforcement officers, and court personnel share their perspectives on what happened to Amy in the weeks, months, and years leading up to her death.

Changing Outcomes While we will never be able to change the ending to Amy’s story, we hope that its telling can change outcomes for the millions of victims, survivors, and loved ones affected by domestic violence every day.

To find a list of showings in the major TV markets, visit http://telling.psu.edu/film/index.html. If your area is not listed, check your local listings.

To find more resources on domestic violence, visit the MedlinePlus Domestic Violence page at http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/domesticviolence.html