Public Safety

Break the Silence and Stop Domestic Violence

Did you know that one in every four women will experience domestic violence in her lifetime and most cases are not reported to law enforcement?

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Did you know that one in every four women will experience domestic violence in her lifetime and most cases are not reported to law enforcement?

A study also finds dating abuse is difficult for most students to identify and stop, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Violence against Women Survey and Knowledge Works.

As part of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department is reaching out to the community to try to make a difference in the lives of those who are living with abuse.

Domestic violence is the willful intimidation, physical assault, battery, sexual assault, and/or other abusive behavior perpetrated by an intimate partner against another. It affects individuals in every community regardless of age, economic status, race, religion, nationality or educational background. Domestic violence results in physical injury, psychological trauma and even death.

Last year, the Sheriff’s Department handled 3,780 domestic violence cases. Help us in spreading the word to Break the Silence – Stop the Violence. Love is not abusive. Start a conversation now with someone you know if you suspect they are in a violent situation. Our stations and substations have deputies and detectives trained to investigate domestic violence.

In an emergency, call 911. You can also call the county’s 24-hour hotline 1-888-DVLINKS (385-4657) to get help.

You can also visit the Sheriff’s Department web page on Domestic Violence. It includes warning signs of an abusive relationship and a video demonstration on how to get a restraining order.