In accordance with Domestic Violence Awareness Month, the Ventura County District Attorney's Office is striving to raise awareness about domestic violence, and support survivors. The Board of Supervisors of the county declared October as "Domestic Violence Awareness Month": a move backed by District Attorney Erik Nasarenko and associated organisations including Interface Children & Family Services, and the Coalition for Family Harmony, as per news release.
In the words of the District Attorney Erik Nasarenko, the awareness month is aimed at eradicating the cycle of abusive behavior that often spans through multiple generations. Ventura County District Attorney's Office was recently awarded a grant by the California Office of Emergency Services in a bid to bring focus on this issue. The Violence Against Women Vertical Prosecution Grant worth $202,545 will be utilized exclusively for prosecuting domestic violence-related cases.
Vertical prosecution, a system in which a case is prosecuted by a single person, including the prosecutor, victim advocate, and investigator, increasing efficacy in the process and ensures lower levels of trauma for the victim. This approach also ensures that similar crimes receive consistent punishments.
The grant will provide crucial financial support to victims of domestic violence. It is to be implemented in collaboration with the District Attorney's Office and the Ventura County Family Justice Center. A second center is currently being developed in Oxnard ensuring a wider accessibility of essential resources. The aim is to connect victims with the right support, eventually leading to a decline in domestic violence occurrences.
A news release stated that victims of domestic violence or individuals who know a victim can reach out for assistance to the Ventura County Family Justice Center, situated at 3170 Loma Vista Road in Ventura. Services and information can be requested during business hours, Monday through Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., either in person, via telephone at (805) 652-7655, via email at [email protected], or via text at (805) 947-7981.
