Putting an End to Domestic Violence in Pennsylvania

By Sheryl Rentz on January 31, 2011

A recent article on PennLive.com discusses the progress that has been made to prevent domestic violence in Pennsylvania, but notes that work still remains to be done to put an end to it.

Founded in 1976, the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence now has a network of 60 domestic programs that provide free services for victims of domestic violence in all of Pennsylvania’s 67 countries. Services include transportation, emergency shelter, counseling, and transitional housing. The network has helped over 2 million domestic violence victims escape continued abuse and rebuild their lives. In 2010, almost 100,000 men, women, and children were given assistance through the coalition.

While more domestic violence statistics are still being calculated for 2010, in 2009, about 180 people in Pennsylvania lost their lives because of domestic violence. Alarmingly, it is a 49 percent increase in the domestic violence fatality rate since 2007. These statistics remind us that there is still much work to be done to help protect victims of domestic violence in Pennsylvania and prevent these incidents from happening in the first place.

If a person is enduring domestic violence or abuse, the most important thing they can do is to safely remove themselves from the situation as quickly as possible. A good first step can also be to file a restraining order, but sometimes, this is not enough. Someone who has suffered verbal or physical abuse at the hands of a spouse, partner, boyfriend or girlfriend, or their parents has legal rights. Seeking assistance can help put a victim of domestic violence on the road to survival that leads to a life free of brutality.

If you have been a victim of domestic violence in Pennsylvania, you have legal rights. At The Law Offices of Sheryl R. Rentz, our Pennsylvania domestic violence attorneys will fight to protect your rights and help obtain the compensation you deserve in a court of law. Contact our law firm today by calling 610-645-0100 to schedule a free consultation.