By New York State Senator Joseph A. Griffo, R-C-Rome, 53rd Senate District
October is Domestic Violence Awareness month. This is a time to raise awareness about the negative impact this type of violence can have on loved ones and families.
Domestic violence is the willful intimidation, physical assault, battery, sexual assault, and/or other abusive behavior as part of a systematic pattern of power and control perpetrated by one intimate partner against another, according to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence. It includes physical violence, sexual violence, psychological violence and emotional abuse.
While the frequency and severity of domestic violence can vary dramatically, the constant component of domestic violence is a partner’s consistent efforts to maintain power and control
Anyone can be a victim, or perpetrator, of domestic violence. Statistics from the coalition show that:
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An average of 24 people per minute are victims of rape, physical violence or stalking by an intimate partner in the United States — more than 12 million women and men over the course of a single year.
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Over 1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men in the U.S. have experienced rape, physical violence, and/or stalking by an intimate partner in their lifetime.
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1 in 4 women and 1 in 7 men have been the victim of severe physical violence by an intimate partner in their lifetime.
There are more than 20,000 phone calls placed to domestic violence hotlines nationwide on a typical day, according to the coalition.
During my time in office, I have secured funding for domestic violence awareness programs and training for several organizations and law enforcement agencies. I also have supported legislation such as the Domestic Violence Protection Act, which would develop a statewide database for domestic violence offenders.
No one should be abused by their supposed loved one, and we must make sure that we are doing all we can to make sure no one is affected by domestic violence.
If you are a victim of domestic violence, I urge you to call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1−800−799−SAFE (7233). You also can text “START” to 88788.
The free and confidential hotline is operated 24 hours a day and seven days a week.
You also can find more information by visiting https://www.thehotline.org/.
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