Dear Friend,

In light of the recent cases in the media, both locally and nationally, I wanted to dedicate this opening message to addressing the issue of domestic violence. I want victims of domestic violence and their loved ones to know that a safety net of services and resources is available to them. You are not alone.

Domestic violence can happen to anyone, regardless of age, sex, race, religion, ethnicity, or educational and economic background. This crime is perpetrated in private and thrives when victims are afraid to come forward. Experience has sadly shown that every instance of domestic violence has the potential to escalate into a deadly situation. Studies have revealed that in the United States, intimate partners are involved in almost 50% of female homicides and 10% of male homicides. Intimate partner violence appears to be a contributing factor in an estimated 6% of America’s suicides, which may correlate with instances of murder/suicides.

Though many cases reach a tragic end, we know that in numerous situations, this outcome can be avoided by reporting abuse to law enforcement and seeking justice for victims through our criminal justice system. On a typical day, there are more than 20,000 phone calls to domestic violence hotlines nationwide. That is about 13 calls per minute. According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, 1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men have experienced some form of physical violence by an intimate partner. One in 15 children is exposed to intimate partner violence each year, and 90% of these children are eyewitnesses to this violence.

Under the leadership of my mentor, Janet Reno, I created our Domestic Violence Unit. It employs a victim-centered, trauma-informed model that has been adopted nationally and internationally. When I prosecuted domestic violence cases, they were not treated as crimes but were instead seen as family disputes. They were not given the importance they deserved, and victims suffered because of it. Some judges handled domestic violence cases in a cavalier manner. In one instance, a judge told the victim in one of my cases that she should be grateful her husband was a bad shot and missed when he fired a weapon at her. You can only imagine the impact this had on the victim and their children.

I am blessed to work with a wonderful team in our Misdemeanor and Felony Domestic Violence Units. Besides having great lawyers, paralegals, and staff, we also have dedicated victim-witness counselors who ensure that our victims are served and supported throughout the criminal justice process. We partner with community agencies and organizations to connect victims to services while proceeding with the criminal cases. Through these longstanding partnerships that provide vital services to victims, we have been able to create a safety net for them to find alternative housing and shelter, various services, and opportunities to heal. Justice and healing must go hand in hand.

If you are in an emergency, call 9-1-1 immediately. For more information about domestic violence resources and victims’ services, you can call our state attorney’s office domestic violence unit at 305-547-0140.

You can also visit our website, MiamiSAO.com, where you can find helpful information and brochures under our Domestic Violence section.

If you are a domestic violence victim in need of shelter and services, please call Miami-Dade County’s Coordinated Victims Assistance Center (CVAC) Helpline at 305-285-5900.

Remember that the many domestic violence resources available can only help when those in danger reach out and take advantage of them.

Thank you, be safe, and God bless,