Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Domestic Violence topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Arapahoe County proclaims October Domestic Violence Awareness Month; advocates and DA highlight service needs and funding shortfalls
Summary
The Board adopted a proclamation recognizing October 2025 as Domestic Violence Awareness Month. 3 Birds Alliance and the Eighteenth Judicial District discussed shelter capacity, case volumes and funding cuts (VOCA) while prosecutors described plans for a domestic violence high-risk team and a family justice center.
The Arapahoe County Board of Commissioners on Oct. 4 proclaimed October 2025 as Domestic Violence Awareness Month and heard presentations from 3 Birds Alliance and the Eighteenth Judicial District about local needs, service volumes and funding gaps.
Carmen Carter, executive director of 3 Birds Alliance, described the nonprofit's services: emergency shelter (30'45 days), an extended-stay program (up to 90 days), housing navigation and court advocacy. Carter said the organization has responded to about 2,200 crisis calls so far this year and provided almost 6,000 bed nights in 2025. She said the group recently lost about $129,000 in VOCA funds for next year and is reconsidering budget cuts as a result.
Amy Patton, district attorney for the Eighteenth Judicial District, and Neely Fields, assistant chief of the felony domestic violence unit, described prosecutorial activity and needs. Patton said the county prioritized the transition of municipal domestic violence cases from Aurora Municipal Court to the county level and requested additional prosecutors and victim-witness support in the 2026 budget. Fields said the felony domestic violence unit is on track to file more than 400 felony domestic violence cases this year (not including misdemeanors) and that nonfatal strangulation is the most common charge the unit sees; she said victims who experience strangulation are at markedly higher risk of later homicide.
Why it matters: County officials and service providers said domestic violence often escalates from behavior that is initially not criminal, making early intervention and survivor supports critical. Speakers asked the board to sustain and expand resources for shelter, housing navigation, victim services and prosecution.
Board and partner remarks
Commissioners emphasized cross-agency partnerships (Human Services, DA's office, law enforcement) and expressed concern about declining federal funding streams and the difficulty of replacing those funds locally. Several commissioners singled out the complexity of domestic violence cases, the long timeframe before some victims leave abusive environments, and the increased danger when victims try to leave.
Action taken
The board moved and passed a proclamation declaring October 2025 Domestic Violence Awareness Month (motion moved by Commissioner Campbell; seconded by Commissioner Baker; voice vote: aye; motion adopted). No funding was approved during the proclamation item; presenters requested continued board support and highlighted pending budget requests and grant applications.
Ending
The county paused to take photographs with proclamation participants and scheduled follow-up conversations about service funding and the DA's plan for a high-risk domestic violence team and the longer-term goal of a family justice center.
