October 4, 2010

Governor Declares October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month

Wilmington, Del. – To raise awareness of the impact that domestic violence has on our state and our citizens, Governor Jack Markell officially declared October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month.  He was joined by Attorney General Beau Biden, legislators, cabinet members, and representatives of the Delaware Coalition Against Domestic Violence and the Delaware Domestic Violence Coordinating Council.

“We should not and will not tolerate domestic violence in Delaware,” Governor Markell said. “Behind all the numbers are real people, whose lives are impacted and whose voices are not always heard. The goal of this month is to say ‘speak up, speak out’ because this must not continue. We must protect victims, hold offenders accountable and break the dangerous cycle of violence.”

According to the State Bureau of Identification, a total of 15,905 criminal incidents of domestic violence were reported in 2009, and of those incidents, 2,912 resulted in physical injury.  Domestic violence can take many forms, including physical, emotional, economic or psychological abuse.

"I'm proud that our efforts this past year to enact tough laws against strangulation and to extend Protection From Abuse orders put Delaware on the leading edge of protecting women and their families from the destruction of domestic violence,” said Attorney General Biden.  “The coordinated effort among legislators, law enforcement, government agencies, community members, and advocates to put an end to these crimes is representative of what's best about our state. Though we've made great strides since the Violence Against Women Act was enacted 16 years ago, domestic violence still occurs far too often, whether in the form of emotional trauma, broken bones, or homicide.  Our fight to protect these innocent victims and punish their abusers never ends."

Earlier this year, Governor Markell signed into law two bipartisan bills to strengthen the ability of judges to give tougher penalties and keep critical protections in place for as long as they are needed.  House Bill 336, sponsored by Rep. Michael A. Barbieri (D-Newark), Rep. Deborah Hudson (R-Fairthorne), Senate Majority Leader Patricia M. Blevins (D-Elsmere) and Senate Minority Whip Liane M. Sorenson (R-Hockessin) authorizes the Family Court to extend the no-contact provisions of Protection From Abuse orders for up to two years, and even longer under special circumstances.   Senate Bill 197 recognizes the severity of the crime of strangulation by making it a stand-alone felony.

In February, the State of Delaware also implemented a policy to better assist state employees who are victims of domestic violence in accordance with Governor Markell’s Executive Order 12. The State Office of Management and Budget worked closely with the Domestic Violence Coordinating Council, the Domestic Violence Task Force of the Delaware Commission for Women, and the Victims’ Rights Task Force to develop the policy.

Senator Blevins, Chair of the Domestic Violence Coordinating Council, also highlighted the work of the Teen Dating Violence Task Force, chaired by Senator Liane Sorenson, “Teen dating violence is much more serious than many people believe.  The work of the Task Force not only underscores the danger to teens, but also makes very specific recommendations, including policies relating to teen dating violence education in our schools.”

Carol Post, Executive Director of the Delaware Coalition Against Domestic Violence, highlighted some of the Coalition’s primary prevention efforts, including the development of a curriculum for Delaware schools to address healthy relationships and intimate partner violence prevention as part of school health curricula.  She thanked the speakers for supporting legislation that provides enhanced protection for victims of domestic violence.

In closing, Carol Post focused on what every Delawarean can do: “We can all contribute to the efforts to end domestic violence by raising awareness of its impact in our communities and by fostering safe and healthy relationships in our homes.”

To speak with someone confidentially about domestic violence,
call 24-Hour Domestic Violence Hotline Numbers:
New Castle County 302-762-6110
Northern Kent County 302-678-3886
Kent & Sussex Counties 302-422-8058
Bi-lingual Hotline 302-745-9874