Domestic Violence Awareness Month

WHEREAS, domestic violence is a serious source of injury and homicide in Alabama and the nation; and

WHEREAS, in 2012, 26 Alabama citizens lost their lives to domestic violence; and

WHEREAS, domestic violence hurts Alabama families, our children and our communities; and

WHEREAS, 38 percent of misdemeanor assaults and 14 percent of felony assaults reported in Alabama in 2011 were domestic violence offenses; and

WHEREAS, the Centers for Disease Control found that 31 percent of Alabama women have been victims of domestic violence in their lifetime and 12 percent of those were found to have sought medical care for domestic violence injuries; and

WHEREAS, 16.8 percent of Alabama high school students reported that they had experience dating violence in which they were hit or kicked by a boyfriend or girlfriend; and

WHEREAS, domestic violence costs Alabama communities and taxpayers millions of dollars in lost wages, medical costs, and criminal justice and incarceration costs; and

WHEREAS, concerned citizens and communities throughout Alabama have implemented innovative and effective programs to raise awareness, prevent domestic and dating violence, protect victims, and hold perpetrators accountable; and

WHEREAS, since 1995, effective and coordinated responses by concerned citizens and communities have successfully reduced domestic violence homicides in Alabama by 55 percent; and

WHEREAS, Domestic Violence Awareness Month recognizes the impact of domestic violence on our state, mourns the lives lost to domestic violence in the past year and encourages citizens and communities to continue to work together to say “No More” to domestic violence:

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Robert Bentley, Governor of Alabama, do hereby proclaim the month of October 2012 as

Domestic Violence Awareness Month

in the state of Alabama.

Given Under My Hand and the Great Seal of the Office of the Governor at the State Capitol in the City of Montgomery on the 10th day of October 2012.

 

      

Robert Bentley, Governor