By Michael Mistroff
Baltimore Watchdog Staff Writer
Gov. Larry Hogan issued a proclamation on Wednesday recognizing October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
The first Domestic Violence Awareness Month was instituted in 1987, the same year that the national toll-free domestic violence hotline was established.
“Our administration is committed to protecting, supporting, and honoring survivors of domestic violence and those who have lost their lives to this horrible crime,” Hogan said. “We will continue to support programs, organizations, and legislation that help secure the safety of victims, while also holding abusers accountable to make Maryland safer for all.”
Maryland’s Uniform Crime Report data showed there was an annual average of 30,785 domestic violence-related crimes and 57 domestic violence-related homicides each year in the state between 2013 and 2018.
The Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention, Youth, and Victim Services has made $140 million available to organizations that work with victims of domestic violence, leading to safety for 98,000 victims, and an increase in self-sufficiency for another 84,000 people since 2015, Hogan said.
“We value the strong partnerships we have with organizations that work to end domestic violence and address its impact,” said Executive Director Glenn Fueston.
“We will continue to work tirelessly to connect victims and survivors with tools that can help make them safer, more self-sufficient, and aware of resources in order for them to rebuild their lives and create brighter futures,” Fueston said.