October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month

Mayor Matherly read a proclamation at the October 22nd City Council Meeting recognizing October as "Domestic Violence Awareness Month". He was joined by Fairbanks Police Chief Jewkes and Brenda Stanfill, the executive director of the Interior Alaska Center for Non-Violent Living.

Unfortunately, domestic violence remains a serious issue in our community. In the past year, the Fairbanks Police Department responded to 1008 calls for assistance related to domestic violence.  This averages 20 calls per week and of those calls 134 times the abuse was of an extent that an arrest was mandatory.

The cost of domestic violence to our community is high and includes law enforcement, the judicial system, emergency and long term services for victims, absenteeism related to employment, and often times increased rates of behavioral health issues. While monetary costs are high, the long-term trauma of victims and children who witness domestic violence is the most concerning.

Mayor Matherly encourages all Fairbanks residents to do whatever they can to stop domestic violence and to support organizations that work with victims of domestic violence.

**Read the full proclamation below.