NORTHAMPTON — The Northwestern District Attorney’s Office has launched a new public awareness campaign aimed at increasing access to domestic violence resources for victims, survivors and community members.
Made possible through a $60,000 Byrne Justice Assistance Grant awarded by the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security’s Office of Grants and Research in December, the campaign is designed to raise awareness of intimate partner violence and connect individuals with local support services.
The campaign includes advertisements displayed on local public transit buses, informational posters in courthouses, and other public-facing outreach materials that encourage victims and survivors to seek help and remind the community that support is available. The Northwestern District Attorney’s Office serves Hampshire and Franklin counties as well as the town of Athol.
According to the DA’s office, publicly displayed materials offer a discreet way for victims and survivors to access information and resources without having to take brochures or other printed materials that could be discovered by an abusive partner, potentially placing them at greater risk.
“Domestic violence often occurs behind closed doors, leaving victims feeling isolated and unsure where to turn for help,” Erin Aiello, chief of the DA’s office’s Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Unit, said in a statement. “This awareness campaign is intended to make resources more visible throughout our communities and send a clear message that victims and survivors are not alone.”
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey, approximately one in three women and one in six men in the United States have experienced severe intimate partner physical violence, sexual violence or stalking during their lifetime.
The DA’s office’s public awareness campaign is one of several initiatives funded through the Byrne Justice Assistance Grant. Additional grant-funded efforts include proactive investigations into the online exploitation of minors and vulnerable adults, technology improvements to support digital evidence management, training for law enforcement on coercive control and other forms of non-physical abuse, and training for emergency medical professionals on intimate partner violence and non-fatal strangulation.
