1Designating the month of October 2014 as "Domestic Violence
2Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania.

3WHEREAS, Domestic violence is a pattern of abusive behavior
4used to establish power and control over an intimate partner;
5and

6WHEREAS, Domestic violence often causes emotional harm to
7victims, their children, other family members, friends,
8neighbors and coworkers; and

9WHEREAS, Domestic violence affects women and men of all
10racial, ethnic, religious, educational, social and economic
11backgrounds; and

12WHEREAS, Domestic violence takes many forms that subject
13victims to physical abuse, harassment, threats, vandalism,
14trespassing, burglary, theft and stalking; and

15WHEREAS, Domestic violence often escalates over time, causing
16victims to suffer physical and emotional trauma, anxiety,

1stress, sleep deprivation, loss of confidence, fear and, in some
2cases, injury and death by suicide or homicide; and

3WHEREAS, Domestic violence is one of the most chronically
4underreported crimes; and

5WHEREAS, One in every four women and one in every nine men
6will experience domestic violence in her or his lifetime; and

7WHEREAS, Approximately 2.3 million people each year in the
8United States are physically or sexually assaulted by a current
9or former spouse, boyfriend or girlfriend; and

10WHEREAS, On average, three women are killed by a current or
11former intimate partner each day in the United States; and

12WHEREAS, According to the Pennsylvania Coalition Against
13Domestic Violence, in 2013, there were 158 fatalities associated
14with domestic violence, which represents a 10% increase from
152012; and

16WHEREAS, The Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence
17reports that at least 1,455 people died as a result of domestic
18violence-related incidents between 2000 and 2009, with a nearly
1950% rise in deaths between 2007 and 2009; and

20WHEREAS, The Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence
21reported in 2011-2012 that local domestic violence hotlines
22handled more than 130,000 calls; and

23WHEREAS, The cost of intimate partner violence exceeds $5.8
24billion each year, $4.1 billion of which is for direct medical
25and mental health services; and

26WHEREAS, Less than 20% of victims who report an injury from
27intimate partner violence seek medical treatment following the
28injury; and

29WHEREAS, Victims of domestic violence lose almost 8 million
30days of paid work annually as a result of the violence; and

1WHEREAS, Each year, businesses forfeit about $100 million in
2lost wages, sick leave, absenteeism and nonproductivity; and

3WHEREAS, Each year, domestic violence programs in
4Pennsylvania provide services to approximately 95,000 victims of
5domestic violence; and

6WHEREAS, Thirty percent to sixty percent of perpetrators of
7intimate partner violence also abuse children in the home; and

8WHEREAS, Children who witness domestic violence in their
9homes are 74% more likely to commit criminal assaults as adults;
10and

11WHEREAS, At-risk individuals and families need education
12relating to their legal rights, judicial proceedings, advocacy,
13counseling and support services, shelter care and crisis
14intervention; and

15WHEREAS, The strength of this Commonwealth relies on healthy,
16peaceful families and the safety of its citizens, especially
17women and children, and this strength must be ensured by
18immediate intervention of the State's justice system and other
19responsible and appropriate services; therefore be it

20RESOLVED, That the Senate designate the month of October 2014
21as "Domestic Violence Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania; and be
22it further

23RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be transmitted to
24the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence at 3605
25Vartan Way, Suite 101, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17110; and be it
26further

27RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be transmitted to
28Women Against Abuse at 100 South Broad Street, Suite 1431,
29Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19110.