Mayor declares October Domestic Violence Awareness Month

The proclamation states that Missouri Domestic Violence programs provided a safe place to stay to more than 10,400 women and children in 2007, but were forced to turn away 8,324 others due to lack of space. Law enforcement agencies recorded 37,215 domestic violence incidents this past year. Domestic violence is not confined to any specific group of people, but effects people of all races, backgrounds, economic levels, education levels, family structures, ages and religions. The crime of domestic violence violates members of our community’s privacy, dignity, security and humanity in the form of physical, emotional, sexual, psychological and economic abuse.