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October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month and the Town of Florence is lighting Town Hall purple for the month of October in the hopes of bringing more attention to this very serious issue. Purple is the color used to represent domestic violence awareness.
Domestic violence affects people from all walks of life and of every age and demographic. It includes physical, emotional and psychological abuse. If you or someone you know may be the victim of domestic violence, it is essential that those affected are aware of the resources available to them.
The National Domestic Violence Hotline is 1-800-799-SAFE (7233). For shelter information, please call 2-1-1 (within Arizona) or 877-211-8661 (from anywhere). Additional shelter information is available by calling (480) 890-3039.
All of the Florence Police Department officers receive annual domestic violence training and two detectives have specialized training on domestic violence investigation techniques. Any violence should be immediately reported to law enforcement.
Last year, 107 people in Arizona lost their lives as a result of domestic violence and one in four women and one in seven men have experienced domestic violence. Researchers estimate that between 12 to 23 percent of women are affected by domestic violence at some point during their lifetime. In addition, these survivors are typically victimized more than once.
The good news is that domestic violence homicide rates in Arizona have decreased annually since 2012, but this number is far too high and more time and attention is needed to reduce this number. Please join the Town of Florence and the many other cities and towns in Arizona in bringing even more awareness to this very serious issue by lighting your homes and businesses purple and taking action for those who need our help.