A domestic violence candlelight vigil, organized by Sheryl Caudel, victim advocate for Harlan County, was held recently at the courthouse in Harlan.

Jeffrey Brock, Harlan District Court Judge, was the featured speaker for the event.

According to Caudel, the objective of the vigil was to honor the 26 victims of domestic violence who lost their lives last year in the state and to acknowledge those who had survived.

“This vigil was also to make people aware of domestic violence and come to the knowledge that there is help for them out there,” said Brock. “The district court is part of the process as far as handling the cases that come before me here in Harlan.”

The Administrative Office of the Courts reports that in fiscal year 2008, there were 26,020 petitions filed by persons seeking domestic violence protective orders.

“We have domestic violence cases every Thursday morning at 8:30 a.m. in Harlan District Court,” Brock said. “The circuit court addresses cases on Mondays.”

Law Information Network of Kentucky (LINK) reports that there were 29,101 emergency protective orders issued in Kentucky last year. There were 7,414 emergency orders with cautions also issued. Orders issued with caution indicates a weapon was involved and the abuser is believed to be armed and dangerous. LINK also reports that these numbers reflected a 3.1 percent increase from the previous year.

“Domestic violence affects a lot of families, not just in Harlan county but all over the United States,” said Brock. “There were several people at the vigil that had family members who were victims of domestic violence or were victims themselves.”

Kentucky has a regionalized network of 15 state funded spouse abuse centers with shelter capacity for 485. Spouse abuse centers provide crisis line services, advocacy, follow-up counseling, information and referral, community education programs and professional training.

Last year spouse abuse centers in Kentucky provided safe shelters to 2,136 women, 11 men and 1,758 children. These numbers prove that this is a serious public safety issue.

Batterers use a wide range of tactics to frighten, terrorize, manipulate, hurt, humiliate, blame, often injure, and sometimes kill a current or former intimate partner.

“The holding of candlelight vigils is so important,” Brock said. “The vigils are very moving to be there and actually hear the stories. A lot of times these stories are very tragic.”

Domestic violence includes homicide, kidnapping, sex offenses, stalking and terroristic threatening committed by one family member or partner against another.

“The main focus is that people are made aware of this serious problem and they know that help is available for them,” Brock said.

To stop domestic violence, the public needs to be part of the solution. If you see or know someone that is being abused you should speak up and tell someone, educate yourself and others, and support your local domestic violence programs.

If you are a victim of domestic violence and need help you may call Caudill at (606) 392-1129 locally or the National Domestic Violence Hotline tollfree 24 hours a day at 1-800-799-7233 or TTY 1-800-787-3224. The Harlan County Domestic Violence Council meet monthly at the Holy Trinity Church. You may get information about these meeting and other vital information at their Web page hcdvc.org.