Arlington Police Cruisers Display Purple Ribbons For Domestic Violence Awareness Month

ARLINGTON, VA — A purple ribbon will be displayed on many Arlington County Police Department vehicles throughout October to bring attention to Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

Police partnered with community advocate Doorways for Women and Families in an effort to reduce domestic violence in the community, a police press release said. Doorways donated the purple ribbons to raise awareness of the issue.

“The purple ribbon is an outward expression of our commitment to investigating incidents of domestic violence in our community and assisting those who may be experiencing domestic violence," M. Jay Farr, Chief of Police, said in a statement. "Eliminating domestic violence requires collaborative prevention and response efforts and the Police Department believes the partnership with Doorways is a step in that direction."

Officers with the Arlington County Police Department made 231 arrests for domestic assault in 2016, police said. According to Doorways’ for Women and Families, last year the 24-Hour Domestic & Sexual Violence Hotline (703-237-0881) responded to 1,471 calls, impacting 2,534 adults and children, which was a 13 percent increase over the previous year.

The organization has recently expanded their hotline. Their new Revive Domestic & Sexual Violence Program has served 373 adults, teens and children over the past two years, the press release says. Doorways’ specially trained advocates also offered hospital accompaniment to 30 survivors of sexual assault to pursue a forensic exam.

“Two years ago, we expanded our hotline, making access to safety and services more comprehensive,” Caroline Jones, Doorways President and CEO, said in a statement. “In the first year, calls increased by 53 percent, and they have continued to increase by about 10 percent each year. We are glad so many people are getting through to get help.”

The first Domestic Violence Awareness Month was observed in October 1987. In 1989, the United States Congress passed Public Law 101-112 designating October as the official Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

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Photo: Arlington County Police Department