Safe Passage partnership will remove tattoos with painful histories

DeKALB – Domestic violence victims tattooed with unpleasant reminders of their past have a chance to remove these marks, courtesy of a partnership between Safe Passage and Ink 180, an Oswego-based nonprofit.

Chris Baker, owner of Ink 180, has performed more than 4,000 tattoo removals and cover-ups for domestic violence victims, former gang members and sex trafficking survivors, according to the shop's website. He is looking to extend his service to DeKalb County's only domestic violence and rape crisis center in the coming weeks.

“When you have some guy’s name on you, and he was horrifically abusive, it’s just a constant slap in the face every time you see that tattoo,” Baker said in a news release.

Baker's services, which began in 2011, are free of charge for victims, and his organization is funded entirely through donations. Safe Passage Executive Director Mary Ellen Schaid said her organization was grateful to have met Baker and thankful for the opportunity to find out about his work.

"Removing tattoos is not the first thing you think about as a need for survivors of sex trafficking and domestic violence, but pimps and perpetrators use tattoos to brand their victims to maintain their power and control," Schaid said in a news release. "Chris is truly some kind of angel."

Kendal Baker, marketing and communication associate with Safe Passage, said only one victim at the shelter has signed up, but many survivors have experienced the need for these services over the years.

The laser-free removal process Chris Baker uses is expected to take anywhere from three to five sessions and will leave clients scar-free.

In addition to this new service, Safe Passage continues to offer free housing and a wide range of services for victims of domestic and sexual violence such as crisis intervention and medical advocacy, short- and long-term housing for victims and their children, counseling, legal aid, children’s services, prevention programming and a partner abuse intervention program.

Staff members are available 24 hours a day via the nonprofit's hotline at 815-756-5228. You also can call the partner abuse intervention program line at 815-756-5054.