U.S. Attorney’s Office for Northern Ohio Observes Domestic Violence Awareness Month

CLEVELAND - The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Ohio is proud to join the U.S. Department of Justice, the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW), and communities across the country in observing Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM) this October.

NDOH uses every available resource to build strategic partnerships with local law enforcement, fellow prosecutors, and victim service organizations to ensure justice, safety, and healing for victims. The Victim Witness Assistance Unit within the U.S. Attorney's Office assists those who are victims of a wide range of crimes, including domestic violence.

"Our Victim Witness Assistance unit performs a vital job to help those whose lives have been changed forever due to the actions of a defendant," said U.S. Attorney David M. Toepfer for the Northern District of Ohio. "When victims of crime -including domestic violence-have the courage to come forward and testify at a hearing, our team of professionals will guide them through the process and provide the support they need to get through what can be a grueling and emotional process."

The Department of Justice funds essential victim services across the country through its grantmaking. Grantees of OVW and the Department's Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) administer programs in their local communities to support victims in the aftermath of domestic violence. In the Northern District of Ohio, recent OVC grant recipients included Akron's Hope and Healing Survivor Resource Center, and Legal Aid of Western Ohio in Toledo. More than $1.9 million in federal grants was awarded to support victims of crime.

If you or someone you know needs help, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233).