‘SILENCE BREEDS VIOLENCE’

• 1 out of every 25 older Americans is a victim of abuse; 4 out of 5 victims never come forward to admit the abuse. - House of Rep. Select Committee on Aging
• According to the Suffolk County Police Department, 34,206 incidents of domestic violence were reported to the SCPD in 2006.
• Domestic violence is the single most common cause of injury to women in the United States. - Victims Information Bureau
  

These are just some of the alarming statistics on violence…

Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy’s Task Force to Prevent Family Violence has developed a public awareness campaign designed to expose and abate violence. The campaign’s theme is ‘SILENCE BREEDS VIOLENCE’ and features messages tied to domestic violence, teen-dating violence, child abuse and neglect, elder abuse, violence against pregnant women and family violence in general.

Compelling posters reflecting the impact that domestic violence can have on individuals and families are being widely distributed to elementary schools and junior and senior high located in Suffolk County, all public libraries, colleges, community centers, hospitals and health centers, as well as a vast array of municipal office buildings and elected officials.

Each poster lists the telephone number 751-7500 for RESPONSE, a 24-hour crisis intervention hotline, as well as telephone numbers for the four domestic violence agencies in Suffolk: Brighter Tomorrows (395-1800); The Retreat (329-2200); the Suffolk County Coalition Against Domestic Violence (666-8833), and the VIBS family violence and rape crisis center (360-3606). These organizations help domestic violence victims find shelter and provide advocates, free of charge, who can help victims secure Orders of Protection and other remedies. According to county officials, 13,738 Orders of Protection were issued in Suffolk in 2007.

Task Force member and VIBS Executive Director Pamela Johnston urged residents to contact a domestic violence agency when they are involved in a violent situation, when they witness a violent situation, or when they are simply concerned for someone whom they suspect may be a victim. “The campaign message is clear,” said Levy. “Violence is never the answer and never an acceptable solution when there are problems within relationships.”

Dating Violence Flyer