Title
Special recognition proclaiming October 2023 as Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
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SPECIAL RECOGNITION
WHEREAS, domestic violence is a national problem that crosses all economic, racial, gender, educational, religious, and societal barriers; and
WHEREAS, according to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, one in three women and one in seven men will experience domestic violence, and most cases are never reported to the police. With 264,729 females and 258,984 males living in Lake County, the formula bears that 88,243 women and 36,998 men in Lake County will experience domestic abuse in their lifetime; and
WHEREAS, abuse by intimate partners is highly underreported and knowing someone is being abused is not always as easy as seeing a bruise. Other signs may include excuses for injuries, personality changes (like low self-esteem in someone who is normally confident), wearing clothes that don't fit the season (like long sleeves in summer to cover bruises), constantly checking in with their partner, never having money on hand, being overly worried about pleasing their partner, and skipping out on work, school, or social outing for no reason; and
WHEREAS, in case of emergency, call 911! For 24/7 assistance and resources, call A Safe Place's Crisis Line at 847-249-4450; and
WHEREAS, ways to help or support someone experiencing domestic violence include believing the victim, creating space for them to make decisions without coercion or manipulation, not underestimating the level of danger they are in, refraining from conditional support, and not provoking or antagonizing the abuser; and
WHEREAS, through cooperative efforts between departments, agencies, and the courts, Lake County has been focused on putting an end to domestic violence; and
WHEREAS, the State's Attorney's Office has a Domestic Violence Division consisting of Assistant State's Attorneys and Victim Witness Coordinators who specialize in prosecuting domestic violence and hel...
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