Domestic violence cases on rise in Prince George’s County, prompting panel discussion

LARGO, Md. ( DC News Now ) — An important meeting was held Tuesday night in Prince George’s County hoping to keep people in potentially dangerous relationships safe.

The Prince George’s County Board of Health along with the Council hosted a panel discussion on domestic violence.

One of the panel members, Dr. Elizabeth Aparicio, a University of Maryland School of Public Health Associate Professor, said open discussions and educating the public about the issue is incredibly important.

“This is a significant issue across our nation, including here in Prince George’s County. Four in ten women…will experience domestic violence so it’s pretty high,” she said.

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month and according to law enforcement, domestic violence cases are up 13% in Prince George’s County. Cases involving domestic violence also make up a large percentage of homicides.

Prince George’s County Council President Jolene Ivey said she is hoping by shining a light on domestic violence, the cases will drop and victims will come forward.

“So it’s really important that we get to the root of the problem and what’s behind people mistreating each other and try to make it stop. The things that happen are so outrageous awful and tragic,” she said.

Nationally, more than 12 million men and women are victims of domestic violence every year. 35% of women and 28% of men have been victims of domestic violence at some point in their lifetime, according to the National Domestic Violence Hotline.

Panelists Tuesday night included the following:

• Prince George’s County Police Chief Malik Aziz;
• Prince George’s County Sheriff John Carr;
• Dr. Denise McCain, Director of Prince George’s County Family Justice Center;
• Christine Cooley, Manager of the Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault Center at the University of Maryland Capital Region Medical Center.

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