Mayor Rawlings-Blake Announces Additional Funding for Domestic Violence Prevention 

City Receives two new grants to fund domestic violence assessments, operations, and prevention efforts

BALTIMORE, Md. (October 22, 2014)—Today, in conjunction with Domestic Violence Awareness Month, Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake joined with the Mayor's Office on Criminal Justice, the Baltimore Police Department, the Baltimore City Sheriff's Office, and House of Ruth Maryland to announce two new domestic violence prevention grants awarded to Baltimore City under the Justice for Families Program of the United States Department of Justice's Office on Violence Against Women and from the Governor's Office on Crime Control and Prevention.

"We have to work together to ensure that all families can find the safety and security that so many of us take for granted," said Mayor Rawlings-Blake. "Today is an amazing step forward in our fight to end domestic violence. These grants will enable us to embrace comprehensive strategies that build a safer and stronger city for all our families."

The Mayor's Office on Criminal Justice received $406,000 to continue operations at Baltimore City's Visitation Center—which provides a safe, abuse-free environment for parents to exchange custody of their children or exercise visitation rights—and to the House of Ruth Maryland's civil legal services program, the Marjorie Cook Domestic Violence Legal Clinic. The clinic helps more than 2,000 victims of domestic violence obtain protective orders, peace orders, divorce decrees, custody of their children, and child support for free each year.

Additionally, the Baltimore Police Department received $60,000 from the Governor's Office on Crime Control and Prevention to continue the Lethality Assessment Program (LAP), which integrates evidence-based screening and standard protocol to identify victims of intimate partner domestic violence who are at the greatest risk of being killed or seriously injured and to connect them immediately with assistance.

Research shows that putting victims in touch with services as soon as possible can reduce domestic violence related homicides, serious assaults, and repeat victimization. LAP encourages victims who are most at-risk to utilize domestic violence support and shelter services.

"1 in 4 women will be a victim of intimate partner violence at some point in her life," said Sandi Timmins, executive director of House of Ruth Maryland. "We are grateful to the Mayor's Office for the continued support of the Visitation Center and the Police Lethality Assessment Program. These programs provide critical, much needed support for the women and children who suffer at the hands of violent abusers, and we couldn't do the work we do without the continued generous support of the Mayor's Office."

Since the Police Lethality Assessment Program was adopted, House of Ruth Maryland has been connected with over 4,000 victims of domestic violence.