CAPSA highlights domestic-violence outreach to Logan leaders during public comment

Josh Thompson, chief development and communications officer for CAPSA (Citizens Against Physical and Sexual Abuse), told the Logan City Council on Oct. 21 that the nonprofit served more than 2,500 people during the last fiscal year and that about 1,900 of those clients were Logan residents.

Thompson said CAPSA’s work includes prevention education in schools and workplaces, crisis response and long-term healing services such as therapy and housing. He also thanked the council and Logan Police Department for a multi-decade partnership, including Logan’s role in using a lethality assessment protocol that CAPSA and police helped pilot.

“Our programs reached over 17,000 people last year in our prevention education efforts,” Thompson said. He also recited statewide research numbers, saying “a 2023 Utah State University study found that 1 in 3 women and 1 in 7 men in Utah will experience domestic violence in their lifetime,” and noted data from the Utah Violent Death Reporting System about the role of domestic violence in homicides.

Thompson pointed to the local economic case for services: he said a national study estimates the average lifetime cost of domestic violence for women is about $103,000 and that CAPSA’s average cost of services per client is about $2,500 per year, resulting in long-term savings when services prevent ongoing harm.

Thompson closed by inviting city leaders to visit CAPSA and by urging the council to continue partnering with the nonprofit to increase awareness and reduce violence in the community.

Ending: Thompson’s remarks were made during the meeting’s public-comment portion and were not followed by formal action by the council.