Ventura County District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced that the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office along with the United States Attorneys for the three districts of California, and the District Attorneys of Sacramento, Alameda, and San Diego counties launched an outreach campaign to help victims of domestic violence during the COVID-19 pandemic. The United States Attorneys and District Attorneys are joined by local domestic violence service providers and Childhelp, a national nonprofit organization aiding victims of child abuse.
The outreach campaign was created to combat unintended consequences of COVID-19 public health measures – an alarming rise in domestic violence with victims trapped at home with their abusers under increasing stress. The National Domestic Violence Hotline has reported an increase in contacts to the hotline during COVID-19. Reports show that physicians are treating more domestic violence injuries and these injuries are more severe. According to the CDC, roughly one in six homicide victims are killed by an intimate partner. Research further shows that abusers with a gun in the home are five times more likely to kill their partners than abusers who don’t have access to a firearm. Under state and federal law, it is illegal to possess a firearm if you are a felon, and the District Attorneys of California as well as the United States Attorney’s Office prioritizes prosecuting individuals with domestic violence felony convictions who possess a firearm.
“Our goal is to hold offenders accountable while also providing a richer, multi-faceted and more robust system of services to help respond to the impact of violence on the innocent victims, survivors and their families. That is why we and 30 local agencies created the Ventura County Family Justice Center”. – Gregory D. Totten, Ventura County District Attorney
The campaign includes a video public service announcement (to be released later this week) and public awareness messages posted on social media platforms with a new post made each day for one week. The posts provide information for victims with resources, such as 24-hour hotlines and other services vital to reporting abuse. The posts also provide tips for concerned friends, relatives, and educators on how they can help victims of abuse.
Help is available for those seeking refuge from domestic abuse at the Ventura County Family Justice Center at NO COST. To learn more about available services, call Monday through Friday, between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., (805) 652-7655, text (805) 947-7981, or email vcfjc.coop@ventura.org. If assistance is needed after hours, 211 Info Link Ventura County is available 24/7 via phone or at www.211ventura.org. Call, click or text 211 to be connected. These are free confidential services that connect people across Ventura County to the resources they need. If emergency assistance is needed please call 911.