U.S. Attorney's Office For The Western District of North Carolina Observes Domestic Violence Awareness Month

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - U.S. Attorney Dena J. King joins the U.S. Department of Justice, the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW), community organizations, and law enforcement partners in observing October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM).

Domestic violence is a pattern of abusive behavior in any relationship, used by one partner to gain or maintain power and control over another intimate partner. According to OVW, domestic violence can happen to anyone regardless of race, age, sexual orientation, religion, sex, or gender identity. Domestic violence affects people of all socioeconomic backgrounds and educational levels and occurs in both opposite-sex and same-sex relationships. It can also happen to intimate partners who are married, living together, dating or share a child.

Speaking this morning in Asheville at Helpmate’s Inc.’s annual domestic violence awareness event, U.S. Attorney King addressed an audience of more than 300 service providers and victim advocates, business leaders, community members, and law enforcement partners about the pervasiveness of domestic violence, and expressed her gratitude to the individuals and organizations that offer services, critical care, and protection to victims and survivors of domestic abuse.

“We have a shared responsibility to combat all forms of domestic violence and use all the tools at our disposal to ensure that victims and survivors have a viable path to safety and justice,” said U.S. Attorney King. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to holding accountable domestic violence offenders who violate federal firearms laws, and enhancing victims’ and survivors’ access to justice by providing much-needed federal resources to organizations that work with individuals and families who have experienced domestic abuse.”

Today, U.S. Attorney King also announced the allocation of more than $2.8 million in federal grants to Safe Alliance, Inc. and Safelight, Inc., two non-profit organizations in the Western District of North Carolina. The federal grants will be used to fund existing projects and new initiatives developed to prevent domestic violence and to support victims and survivors who have experienced domestic violence, dating violence, stalking and sexual assault.

“The deployment of much-needed resources through federal grants is critical in our mission to support community organizations that combat domestic violence and assist victims, survivors, and their families as they recover and rebuild their lives,” said U.S. Attorney King. “The grant awards will be used to improve access to legal services, expand economic support for survivors in underserved communities, and provide training and technical assistance for professionals who work with survivors every day.”

OVW provides leadership in developing the nation’s capacity to reduce violence through the implementation of the Violence Against Women Act and subsequent legislation. Created in 1995, OVW administers financial and technical assistance to communities across the country that are developing programs, policies, and practices aimed at ending domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. In addition to overseeing federal grant programs, OVW undertakes initiatives in response to special needs identified by communities facing acute challenges. Learn more at www.justice.gov/ovw.

IF YOU ARE IN IMMEDIATE DANGER, CALL 911

You can also find local help here or by calling the national hotline:

National Domestic Violence Hotline

1-800-799-SAFE (7233)

1-800-787-3224 (TTY)

Advocates are available 24/7

National Center for Victims of Crime

1-855-4-VICTIM (1-855-484-2846)