October 17th-23rd is the Week of Action for Domestic Violence Awareness Month 2022. Domestic Violence Awareness Month is about shining a light on the realities of domestic violence within our communities. With awareness, we have the tools to take action and make change. Here are some key facts to help take action.
- The Arkansas Valley Resource Center was created in 1987, in response to a DV murder that occurred in the 16th Judicial District (Bent, Otero, and Crowley Counties).
- Domestic Violence (DV), under the Colorado Revised Statutes (CRS Title 18 Criminal Code ยง 18-6-8003), is defined as an act or threatened act of violence upon a person whom the actor is or has been involved in an intimate relationship. It further defines “intimate relationship” as a relationship between spouses, former spouses, past or present unmarried couples, or persons who are both the parents of the same child, regardless of whether the persons have been married or have lived together at any time.
- DV, per Colorado Law, is a criminal sentence enhancement. This means that if a DV perpetrator is charged and convicted, the sentence of the crime(s) committed (harassment, assault, etc.) increase, due to the potential lethality of the situation.
- In Colorado DV cases, if law enforcement has probable cause to believe that DV has occurred, the perpetrator is to be automatically arrested. Additionally, the perpetrator is to be held without bond until they go before a Judge for advisement, and a mandatory (criminal) no-contact protection order is issued.
- Colorado DV cases cannot be dropped by the victim in the case. It is at the discretion of the State, specifically the prosecuting District Attorney’s Office, to dismiss a case or “drop charges”.
- Per the Colorado Victim Rights Act (VRA), Domestic Violence is considered a violent crime. As such, victims of DV are to be protected throughout duration of the criminal justice process under the Colorado VRA.
- As a VRA protected crime, the victim of a DV case that has been reported and charged may be able to access Victims Compensation to pay for expenses that may have been a result of their victimization.
- From 2020 to 2021 over 40,000 cases were reported to law enforcement in Colorado, per the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI). This was a 9.1% total increase from 2019.
- In 2021, AVRC provided services to 391 new cases of domestic violence within our service area.
- Of the 364 cases of murder reported to CBI in 2021, murders committed by intimate partners accounted for 12.4%.
Domestic violence cannot and will not end on its own. In order to stop this violence, we must use the tools available to address it. It is important to remember that #Every1KnowsSome1 who is a victim or survivor of abuse, and that our actions can make a difference.
If you are experiencing or have previously experienced domestic violence, or someone you care about is in an abusive situation, know that you are not alone, and support is available to help you. All you have to do is reach out!
AVRC staff is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year!
415 Colorado Avenue, La Junta, CO 81050
(719) 384-7764
TTY: (719) 384-1938
After Hours Colorado Relay dial 711 or 1-800-659-2656
AVRC is non-discriminatory agency regarding age, race, religion, color, gender, country of national origin, sexual orientation, mental health status, substance use or economic condition.