ARKANSAS (KFSM) -- A free book was published to help domestic violence victims navigate the Arkansas legal system.
The Natural State is ranked 17th in the nation in female deaths caused by males, according to a CDC report. An estimated 36 percent of adults in Arkansas are affected by domestic violence.
The book is called Domestic Violence: A Practical Guide for Navigating the Legal System in Arkansas. It's written by attorneys, and aims to help the victims through the criminal, civil and domestic issues that survivors deal with in the Arkansas court system.
The book outlines how people are being treated and how they should be treated. The first chapter explains what constitutes as domestic violence, and helps people identify whether they are in an abusive relationship, whether that's physical, mental, emotional or even financial.
"These people have a really hard time accessing the court system," said Matthew Fryar, chair of the Arkansas Bar Association Young Lawyers System. "They have typically been run out of their home. They have the clothes on their back, maybe a credit card, they can't afford a lawyer, and as much as all the pro bono lawyers would love to help every domestic violence survivor in the state, there's just not enough lawyers in the state."
So far, two copies of the book have been distributed to every public library in the state and 100 copies to every circuit clerks office, which is considered a gateway into the court system for domestic violence survivors. Domestic violence survivors frequently go to the clerk's office to get protective orders or to file a divorce.
The attorneys are also planning to send 400 copies to the Arkansas coalition on domestic violence and give 100 copies to every domestic violence shelter.