October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month and both the city of Brownwood and Brown County issued proclamations this week at the Brownwood City Council meeting and Brown County Commissioner’s court to acknowledge its importance. Pictured to the left is Mayor Stephen Haynes, representatives from the Ark Domestic Violence Shelter and Family Services Center and Brownwood Chief of Police Mike Corley. (Photo contributed)
According to the Texas Council on Family Violence, 111 Texas women died in 2009 as the result of domestic violence. Every year in the United States, 1,000 to 1,600 women die at the hands of their male
partners, often after a long, escalating pattern of battering.
For over 20 years, Texas Council on Family Violence website honors victims who have been killed due to domestic/family violence by publishing the “Honoring Texas Victims” which memorializes their deaths with a brief and tasteful account of their stories. Awareness of these deaths not only pays tribute to these Texas victims but also helps educate that there are issues that affect the ability of these women to escape dangerous relationships. It is meant for this report to help strengthen the public’s resolve as a community to help end domestic violence against women and girls to work earnestly to save lives.
The Texas Department of Public Safety’s 2009 statistics report:
- The total number of Texas family violence incidents in 2009 numbered 196,713. This represented a1.7% increase when compared to 2008.
- These incidents involved 212,106 victims which was up 1.9% when compared to 2008. Offenders involved in the incidents numbered 207,315 which was up 1.8% from 2008.
- Of the more than 200,000 victims of family violence, severe lacerations were the most common major injury at 30% and broken bones were reported in 11%.
- Relationships of Victim to Offenders were 44.3% marital, 15.7% Parent/Child, and 40% were other family members (which also included roommates).
- There were more 20 to 24-year-old victims than any other age group.
- In cases where offender’s sex was known, 76% were male and 24% were female. The age group with the highest number of offenders was the 20-24-year-old bracket.
Purple has traditionally been the color associated with Domestic Violence Awareness efforts. During Domestic Violence Awareness Month, TCFV challenges all of Texas to “Go Purple” and strive for a state where no woman is killed by a husband, partner, or boyfriend.
