Family Violence Prevention Council Involved in Domestic Violence Awareness Month

                           THIRD CIRCUIT FAMILY VIOLENCE PREVENTION COUNCIL INVOLVED IN
                                                 DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH

The Third Judicial Circuit Family Violence Prevention Council is actively involved in National Domestic Violence Awareness Month and urges all members of the community to recognize and support the events and work of the Family Violence Coordinating Councils that exist in each judicial circuit in the State of Illinois. October has been designated as Domestic Violence Awareness Month since 1987. All branches of government recognize the importance of protecting survivors of domestic abuse and holding abusers accountable. This month is designed to celebrate the progress made in education and services to combat domestic abuse and violence.

“Domestic Violence in intimate partner situations remains a concern of the Third Circuit Family Violence Prevention Council. We have created a sub-committee to improve our response in community safety and perpetrator accountability. Our Domestic Violence Accountability Court will begin to handle these cases in a coordinated response between the courts, the state, the defense bar, probation officers and service providers,” noted Chief Judge David Hylla. Circuit Judges Barbara Crowder and Richard Tognarelli are serving on the sub-committee along with Assistant State’s Attorneys Jennifer Mudge, Tom Irvin and Kate Bucher, Assistant Public Defender Kerri Davis, and other members of the courthouse staff.

To further highlight the month, Judge Bill Mudge spoke at the Second Annual Domestic Violence Awareness Month Walk held at the Liberty Bank Amphitheater in Alton on October 1st. The Alton Police Department and the 3rd Circuit Family Violence Prevention Council orchestrated a walk and then those in attendance also heard from Judge Mudge and a local survivor of domestic abuse.

On October 13th, Lt. Mark Wynn, a nationally known trainer for law enforcement on domestic violence, will present training on Domestic/Sexual Violence Intervention, Effective Investigation, Community Collaboration and Response. This program will be held at the convention center in Collinsville and is hosted by SILEC and the Family Violence Councils of both the Third and the Twentieth Judicial Circuits. This training is free to local police departments.

The Eleventh Annual Memorial Service for domestic violence victims and their families will be held in the Healing Garden at Alton Memorial Hospital on October 15th. Circuit Judge Barb Crowder will speak along with local community members and a survivor of domestic violence.  

”Domestic Violence Awareness month reminds members of the community to mourn those who have died because of domestic violence and to celebrate those who have survived. We must all work, as a community, to end Domestic violence,” noted Judge Robert Anderson, President of the Illinois Judges Association and its approximate 1300 members. Every single day three women lose their lives as a result of domestic violence. One in four women and one in seven men in the United States will suffer serious physical violence from an intimate partner at least once in their lifetimes according to the National Resource Center on Domestic Violence.

The Third Judicial Circuit is proud to note that judges are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to hear petitions for emergency orders of protection so victims are able to seek protection from further abuse, be safe in their homes, and to provide for the placement and safety of child victims. The many programs available through court proceedings such as advocates in the courtroom, perpetrator counseling, and protection of children can only be successful if members of the public and the community are aware of the help the court system can offer. The Family Violence Prevention Council urges members of the public to familiarize themselves with local services.

Contact:  Judge Barbara Crowder 
                (618) 296-4576