Protecting Domestic Violence Victims During the Covid-19 Pandemic

Protecting domestic violence victims during the COVID-19 Pandemic.  The Houston Police Department is committed to holding domestic violence offenders accountable; supporting survivors of these crimes in finding the safety and recovery they need and preventing future domestic violence.  As a community, we must provide victims with the attention they need to access resources, get to safety, and ensure victims don’t go unnoticed or unassisted.

The Major Assaults & Family Violence Division has been working with domestic violence community partners during this COVID-19 timeframe in an effort to have a coordinated response to the increase in domestic violence cases, with specific focus on the 41.25% increase in the domestic violence Part 1 Violence Crimes.  Self-quarantine and social distancing make sense from a public safety perspective, but for victims of domestic violence there are increased risks associated with these situations.  We recognize the impact COVID-19 is having on families.

In collaboration with the Harris County Domestic Violence Coordinating Council, the Harris County Sheriff’s Office, and the Harris County District Attorney’s Office we have prepared the Attached, COVID-19 Domestic Violence Awareness posters for victims of domestic violence.  Please outreach to your community partners at apartments, grocery store, or any high visibility locations to inquire if they would be able to post and display the domestic violence awareness posters during this COVID-19 time-frame.  There is an increase risk to domestic violence victims during this “Stay Home – Work Safe” timeframe and we do not want victims to be isolated from resources and as a department we do not want them to feel alone.