October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month

Backlog of cases need addressing

Posted

The Thurston Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) recognized October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

During the commissioners’ October 4 meeting, Thurston's Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Jennifer Lord reported that domestic violence remains a pervasive issue across the county.

"During the last two years of COVID, domestic violence did not sleep. Prior to those two years, domestic violence did not stop," Lord shared.

Lord said domestic violence is both a family and a community problem as it affects society at every level, including health and safety.

For this year, Lord revealed that the Thurston County Prosecuting Attorney's Office had provided more than 4,200 advocacy services to more than 980 victims of domestic violence. Deputies of the Thurston County Sheriff's Office have responded to over a thousand of 911 domestic violence-related 911 calls.

"We have yet to be able to address the backlog from the COVID cases that came in where arrest did not happen," said Lord. "It will take a long period of time to address those."

Lord reminded the board and the public that domestic violence "is still here, and it does not rest."

"We will continue to work in assisting the community in accountability and healing [from] the cycle of domestic violence," said Lord.

The public can report domestic violence cases to the Family Support Center or the SafePlace 24/7 hotline at 360-754-6300.

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