NEWS

Council recognizes October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month

By EMMA BARTLETT
Posted 10/25/22

Council members unanimously approved a resolution (8-0) recognizing this October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month within the city. The resolution was sponsored by Councilwoman Nicole Renzulli, …

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NEWS

Council recognizes October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month

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Council members unanimously approved a resolution (8-0) recognizing this October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month within the city. The resolution was sponsored by Councilwoman Nicole Renzulli, Councilman Matt Reilly and Councilman Richard Campopiano.

Renzulli shared that approximately one in five women in the United States and up to one in seven men in the United States have experienced severe physical violence by an intimate partner at some point in their lifetimes. She added that, according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, on average, three women are killed each day in America by a current or former intimate partner.

Renzulli spoke with an advocate from the Elizabeth Buffum Chace Center which provided statistics on Cranston’s domestic violence cases. This year, the center has served 345 Cranston victims through various programs such as counseling, housing, case management, court advocacy and law enforcement advocacy. In 2021, the center served 404 individuals, 369 individuals in and 406 individuals in 2019.

“Those are pretty significant numbers, so I wanted to make sure that this is on our radar for this month and that we’re always working to assist domestic violence victims and as residents to keep this on the forefront of our minds,” said Renzulli.

The resolution states that victims should have help finding the compassion, comfort and healing they need, and that domestic abusers should be punished to the full extent of the law. Victims should also have access to medical and legal services, counseling and other supportive services so that they can escape the cycle of abuse.

Reilly said he jumped at the opportunity to co-sponsor the resolution when Renzulli came to him with the idea.

“In my line of work, I see this everyday and it’s pervasive,” said Reilly. “There’s a lot of people dealing with this that we just don’t know about.”

Reilly said domestic violence is something that’s been around and needs to be a major focus. Victims of domestic violence experience immediate and long-term negative outcomes, including detrimental effects on mental and physical health. Research shows that being abused by an intimate partner increases an individual’s likelihood of substance use as well as associated harmful consequences.

“This affects everybody equally,” Reilly said. “It leaves bruises and, a lot of times, leaves scars.”

Councilwoman Lammis Vargas said that in working at the Treasurer’s Office, the crime victim compensation office provides a lot of services – including emergency housing -- to victims of domestic violence.

While domestic violence can be a taboo subject, Councilwoman Aniece Germain said unfortunately a lot of women who experience domestic violence are sometimes afraid or ashamed to let people know they are a victim of violence. She added that if the abuser is the main provider, then the victim may not expose the partner because they would be unable to support themselves.

Campopiano added that he hopes that through this resolution, people will come forward and receive help from organizations such as the Elizabeth Buffum Chace Center and CCAP which have services for those who have been impacted by domestic abuse.

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