The Columbia County Board of Commissioners proclaimed October as Domestic Violence Awareness at Tuesday’s meeting.
According to Columbia County’s written proclamation, domestic violence accounts for 15% of all violent crime and in 2021, there were six homicides in Columbia County related to intimate partner violence.
In 1979, a coalition of women in Augusta, who started what is now known as SafeHomes Domestic Violence Center, formed to find ways to assist other women who were victims of domestic violence.
According to the SafeHomes Domestic Violent Center website, domestic violence impacts the lives of more than 2,000 individuals and their families each year.
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SafeHomes also served 1699 people and 355 were from Columbia County according to the proclamation.
“The Columbia County Board of Commissioners do hereby proclaim October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month and call on everyone to speak out against domestic violence, advocate for change, and support local efforts to assist victims of these crimes in finding the help and healing they need,” read the proclamation.
Along with the proclamation, the Board of Commissioners also approved a bid to replace security and traffic cameras in Columbia County.
According to the recommendation sheet, Columbia County has a fleet of over 300 video cameras that are used for security as well as traffic management purposes. Of these 300 cameras, 127 of them were designated at end of life. A bid from ASAP Security Services was approved $281,281.29.
Chris Rickerson is a staff reporter covering Columbia County government and general assignment topics for The Augusta Press. Reach him at chris@theaugustapress.com.
