A local perspective on the Ray Rice video that sparked outrage

CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee(WDEF) – Domestic violence occurs almost every week in the Chattanooga metropolitan area but there’s rarely any attention to the issue until a major event  happens.

On Monday, that major event was the release of security video showing suspended NFL star Ray Rice knocking out his fiance on an elevator in an Atlantic City elevator.

WDEF spoke with Regina McDevitt to get her take on the video that was released. McDevitt is the senior director of crisis services at Partnership for Families, Children and Adults. Partnership is an organization that services women who have been battered and abused.

"I think the video was pretty shocking. That was my first reaction. Then my second reaction forced me to think  this happens everyday; it just isn’t seen everyday," McDevitt said.

It’s rare to find acts of domestic violence caught on surveillance video in Chattanooga. But it’s not rare to find domestic violence arrest reports in the daily inmate booking sheet at the Hamilton County Jail. And it’s certainly not rare to click onto social media websites like Youtube to find domestic violence videos from other locations in the world.

"Social media can play a unique impact on domestic violence and on any crime because in this in day and age, there are cameras everywhere," McDevitt said.

Not every video of domestic violence goes viral enough to bring the issue to the national fore front or captures the attention of a mass audience. And that leads to another question.

"Why is it that it takes a significant high profile case of domestic violence to bring it to the fore front when we know that domestic violence happens everyday in Chattanooga, Tennessee and in every state in this country," McDevitt asked.

Another issue, McDevitt brought up was accountability. She believes the NFL has made strides by issuing a new policy that severely punishing players who commit domestic violence. Once the video was released, the Baltimore Ravens released Rice from his multimillion dollar contract and fired him from the team. The league then suspended Rice indefinitely.

McDevitt said employers who employ people who commit domestic violence should consider similar rules that are now in place by the NFL.

Experts say in every generation, a high profile athlete commits a heinous act of domestic violence that shines light on the issue.

In recent years, those athletes have been affiliated with the NFL. O.J., Simpson, Ray Carruth and now Ray Rice has become the official poster boy for domestic violence.

If you or someone you know is suffering from domestic violence, you can call the domestic abuse hotline at 423-755-2700. All calls are confidential.