CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va.- United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh joins the US Department of Justice, the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW), advocates, survivors, victim service providers, justice professionals, police and first responders, as well as communities and sovereign Tribal nations across the United States observe October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM).
Domestic violence is more common than many people realize, and its devastating consequences can span generations and last a lifetime. Approximately one in four women, and one in seven men, will experience severe domestic violence in their lifetime; however, rates are disproportionately higher for American Indian and Alaska Native populations, women of color, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and two-spirit people, and people with disabilities. DVAM provides an opportunity to spread awareness about domestic violence and encourages everyone to play a role in ending gender-based violence.
“Domestic violence affects all of us personally in some way,” US Attorney Kavanaugh said today. “Federal prosecutors for the Western District of Virginia have a duty to use all the tools at our disposal, including leveraging our partnerships with local law enforcement agencies, to ensure that victims have a viable path to safety and justice .”
While most domestic violence charges are handled by state prosecutors, U.S. Attorney Kavanaugh highlighted those cases where the Justice Department may be involved, including cases where there is a cyber component, cases involving the crossing of state lines, and cases involving a firearm. .
“We take cases of domestic violence very seriously and work extensively to provide services to survivors to rebuild and heal their lives,” said United States Attorney Kavanaugh. “My office is dedicated to providing the highest level of care to help victims of domestic violence navigate the sometimes complex criminal justice process.”
In addition, the Department of Justice makes funding streams available to non-profits for relocation, safety and other programs that work with domestic violence victims and assist other services.
To learn more about the Office of Violence Against Women, please visit www.justice.gov.OVM.
