Law enforcement officials say four homicides and multiple shootings in the Charlotte area over the past week involved domestic violence. And, police and court officials say 27 percent of last year’s homicides in Charlotte-Mecklenburg were related to domestic violence.
The number of such killings so early in the new year is “alarming,” says Karen Parker, with Safe Alliance in Charlotte. The organization provides support and services to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault.
Parker says Safe Alliance makes a special effort to reach out to the community at times like this. And, the organization also tends to hear from more victims. "New callers, but also callers that maybe have been in the situation before or maybe they’re triggered by what they’re seeing on the news reports and they call back," Parker adds.
She says advocates for domestic violence victims are working to establish a system that would allow victims to seek protective court orders electronically, without going to the courthouse. Parker says doing so "is a difficult thing for many clients, since they are often fearful and it's not safe for them to be out."
Last month, local officials said they hope to eventually create a family justice center, where legal and social services for domestic violence victims would be housed under one roof.
The Safe Alliance Domestic Violence Crisis Line for Mecklenburg County and Lake Norman can be reached at 704-332-2513.
