Domestic violence is prevalent in every city, town, and neighborhood – our office handles hundreds of domestic/partner violence cases across Lancaster County every year.

Unfortunately, some cases involve deadly acts of abuse. Before many of those crimes, there were warning signs – an intervention could have saved a life.

We are teaming with community partners in October to raise awareness of domestic abuse during Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

Visit Community Action Partnership’s social media pages for October events and ways you can become involved in efforts to decrease incidents of domestic abuse.

Our office will be spotlighting those events throughout the month.

On Oct. 7, the Silent Witness Virtual Vigil will honor those who have been killed in Lancaster County in acts of domestic abuse. Our office is a partner with Lancaster General Health in that event.

Many of those cases involved prosecution of a partner, relative, or spouse.

So far this year, our office has received 530 DV-related criminal cases from police departments in Lancaster County. Additionally, we have handled over 100 violations of protection from abuse orders (PFAs).

Our office has a specialized unit committed to holding offenders accountable and getting victims support as soon as possible. That support involves separation from the offender.

Domestic Violence Court, an expedited streamlining of DV prosecution, is designed to get offenders into court as soon as possible (following charges), so contact with the victim after an offense is limited.

We often have difficulty keeping victims involved in a criminal prosecution when contact with the offender continues.

That is why taking action is crucial when you feel you might be seeing warning signs of domestic abuse involving a friend, relative, co-worker, or neighbor.

Speaking up could save someone’s life.

Learn more about domestic violence from these great community resources:

- Community Action Partnership: https://caplanc.org/

- YWCA: https://ywcalancaster.org/

- Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence: https://www.pcadv.org/

MEDIA CONTACT: Brett A. Hambright, 717-295-2041; bhambright@co.lancaster.pa.us; Twitter: @BrettHambright