October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month

Recent news stories involving domestic violence have drawn renewed attention to this important issue. Although these current stories have involved sports figures, domestic violence is a crime that may be experienced by anyone.

Major legislation addressing domestic violence is contained in the Violence Against Women Act of 1994, introduced by then-Senator Joe Biden. It appears as Title IV in the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 (September 13, 1994). The Act includes sections on federal penalties for sex crimes, such as mandatory restitution, and a grant for a national domestic violence hotline. The law also adds sections on interstate domestic violence and grants for rural domestic violence and child abuse enforcement and for community programs on domestic violence.

The law was reauthorized in 2013 as the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013 (March 7, 2013).

Several websites, publications, and contact numbers contain very helpful information:

Alabama Coalition Against Domestic Violence, 1-800-650-6522
Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women
Intimate Partner Violence
National Crime Victimization Survey
National Domestic Violence Hotline 1-800-799-SAFE (7233)
National Coalition Against Domestic Violence

Michelle Andrews
Government Documents
Central Library