Item Description:
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Declaring October 2026, to be Domestic Violence Awareness Month in Hennepin County - offered by Commissioners Conley and Fernando
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WHEREAS, National Domestic Violence Awareness Month was first declared in 1989 to acknowledge the millions of victims and survivors who experience domestic and intimate partner violence in the United States each year; and
WHEREAS, domestic violence encompasses various forms of abuse within the home, workplace, places of worship, and broader community, including physical, sexual, emotional, economic, psychological, technological, and/or religious actions or threats of actions aimed at gaining or maintaining control or power over someone; and
WHEREAS, intimate partner violence is a form of domestic violence that occurs within an intimate partner relationship; and
WHEREAS, domestic abuse is an act or crime defined by the relationship or living arrangements between victim and abuser. That includes individuals in intimate partner relationships, family members, or roommates. Domestic abuse, per Minnesota law, includes violent acts of physical harm or injury as well as the infliction of fear of imminent physical harm, bodily injury, or assault; and
WHEREAS, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 64 million people experience domestic violence in their lifetime, with more than 34% of women and nearly 17% of men reporting victimization; and
WHEREAS, according to the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, there were more than 19,000 domestic violence incidents in the state in 2025. More than one-third of them occurred in Hennepin County, representing over 7,800 victims and 8 homicides; and
WHEREAS, intimate partner violence affects more than 12 million people every year; and
WHEREAS, Hennepin County is committed to combating domestic violence and creating a system and community in which victims and survivors are empowered to seek justice and are supported in their healing journey; and
WHEREAS, it is important to support domestic violence prevention efforts and transformative services to achieve a community where all people are healthy, valued, and thriving. Doing that effectively requires leveraging county and community resources, partnerships, and opportunities for new collaborations; and
WHEREAS, the tragedy of domestic violence is reflected in the lives lost, reminding us that this pervasive issue has devastating impacts for families and communities; therefore
Resolution:
BE IT RESOLVED, that the Hennepin County Board of Commissioners hereby declares October 2026 as Domestic Violence Awareness Month; acknowledges domestic violence as an ongoing and urgent issue; reaffirms the Board of Commissioners’ commitment to honoring the lives of victims and the recovery, healing, and well-being of survivors; and confirms Hennepin County’s ongoing investment in prevention and intervention efforts.
Recommendation from County Administrator: No Recommendation