GOCCP Kicks Off Domestic Violence Awareness Month by Celebrating Maryland’s Milestones in the Effort to Combat Violence Against Women October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month and in addition to raising public awareness about this senseless crime, Maryland and the nation will be commemorating the 20th Anniversary of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). This federal legislation marked a turning point in the way the nation responded to victims of domestic violence and sexual abuse. Previously, victims often had to suffer in silence with no support and no recourse for services. But over the past two decades, under VAWA, that has changed.
In the coming days, the Governor’s Office of Crime Control and Prevention (GOCCP) will take to Twitter to highlight the milestones in Maryland’s efforts to combat violence against women, many of which were made possible by VAWA. Follow along @GOCCP. Since VAWA was established, more than $40 million dollars has been committed to helping victims of domestic abuse and sexual assault in Maryland. In the current fiscal year, VAWA funds total more than $2 million and have helped establish shelters in every county in the state and Baltimore City.
“Together, we set and surpassed our goal to reduce violent crimes against women and children by 25 percent by 2012. These are major, life-saving accomplishments, and while we’ve made significant progress protecting and empowering victims and advocates, we still have more work to do,” said Gov. Martin O’Malley. “Here in Maryland, protecting the public’s safety and safeguarding families is our most sacred responsibility, and we will continue this essential, life-saving work until we completely eradicate domestic violence in our homes and in our communities.”
“Over the last 20 years, the Violence Against Women Act has played a tremendous role in our efforts to reduce domestic violence and assist victims in Maryland and across the country,” said Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown. “No family is immune to the horrors of domestic violence, but thanks to the critical funding provided by VAWA, we continue to make progress toward eliminating this senseless crime.”
The primary purpose of the VAWA program is to support a multifaceted approach to responding to violence against women through the implementation of grant programs authorized by the federal law. In Maryland, successful partnerships among police, prosecutors, judges, victim advocates, health care providers, faith leaders and others, in combination with grants from GOCCP, provide victims with the protection and services they need to pursue safe and healthy lives, while improving our communities’ capacity to hold offenders accountable for their crimes.
When a woman is abused or sexually assaulted, hotlines are available to help her find her way through the trauma. There are emergency shelters to provide a safe refuge for her and, if necessary, her children. She can receive counseling from trained and compassionate professionals in the first, critical hours after an assault, and in the days and weeks that follow as she works to rebuild her life.
These non-profit groups have partnered with law enforcement and the criminal justice system to help assure the safety of the victim in a variety of ways. Initiatives such as the Lethality Assessment Program help police determine the needs of a victim quickly and provide immediate connections to victim service providers. Dedicated domestic violence and sexual assault personnel in law enforcement and prosecution investigate and prepare cases and victims for court. Maryland stakeholders and advocates are trained in best practices in domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking and strangulation.
“The Violence Against Women Act was a milestone for this country, and has been instrumental in Maryland’s programs to help survivors of domestic violence,” said Tammy Brown, GOCCP’s Executive Director. “Countless lives have been saved, and because of VAWA funding, many families have been able to get the treatment and support they need to heal after the trauma of domestic violence and sexual assault.”
