people, helpline and domestic violence concept - close up of unhappy woman crying and calling on smartphone Domestic violence rates here in the Las Vegas valley has seen a steady increase during the pandemic. Adding to the problem, worries something that could help is not getting to victims. A call for help came
“Domestic violence is the epidemic inside the pandemic,” Liz Ortenburger, CEO of SafeNest, said. https://www.reviewjournal.com/crime/as-nevada-reopens-calls-flood-in-from-domestic-violence-victims-2029659/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XgkSUuNajKo In the third installment of their Virtual Community Safety Forum, sponsored by NV Energy, The Mob Museum talked to the Las Vegas Metro Police Department and SafeNest about how to help domestic violence victims during the pandemic. Watch on YouTube
Metro Police have reported a 12 percent spike in domestic violence calls since the pandemic jolted normal routines and shuttered schools and many businesses. But domestic violence agencies across the state fear that’s just the beginning. https://thenevadaindependent.com/article/advocates-say-pandemic-adds-multiple-levels-of-scary-to-domestic-violence-situations
https://www.ktnv.com/morningblend/safenest-4-29-20
Clark County Sheriff Joe Lombardo said Metro had seen an uptick of about 13% in domestic-disturbance-related calls for service, or an increase of about 500 calls, as of April 11. https://lasvegassun.com/news/2020/apr/21/since-stay-home-order-domestic-violence-tragedies/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d3thyU_mLk8 "We are seeing a 15% increase in our hotline volume, and we are expecting that number to go up."
“Whenever the quarantine is eased or lifted or it goes on longer, we are going to see such a spike of domestic violence that we as an agency have to be ready to serve that,” Ortenburger said. https://www.ktnv.com/news/coronavirus/advocates-covid-19-crisis-worsening-domestic-abuse
“For a lot of victims the time they can actually collect themselves and reprieve is when their batterers go out to either be social or go to work,” said Liz Ortenburger, CEO for SafeNest. “So, with a stay at home order, the intensity of now which they have no break in their cycle of violence
“Imagine, it’s typical for domestic violence victims to feel isolated in normal circumstances,” Ortenburger said. “And now here we are in this unprecedented time, you are feeling doubly isolated.” https://lasvegassun.com/news/2020/apr/01/las-vegas-shelter-virus-lockdowns-further-endanger/
