Marsy’s Law Urges Nevada to Go Purple in October for Domestic Violence Awareness Month

Nevada, October 2021 - October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month and Marsy’s Law is urging Nevadans to GO PURPLE in support of domestic violence victims and survivors, everywhere.

Marsy’s Law for Nevada was approved by voters in 2018 and created Constitutional protections for victims through the judicial process. Among those, are Nevadans victimized by domestic violence.

Nevadans and businesses can help support victims, assistance organizations, and crime reduction efforts statewide. This October SHINE A PURPLE light at your business, wear purple, or donate to your local domestic violence organizations, and then spread the word by posting photos on social media using hashtags #DVAM2021, #VictimsRightsNV, #MLNVGoPurple, and #GoPurpleNV.

Nevada is known for having one of America’s highest rates of domestic violence among adults and children. The Nevada Coalition to End Domestic and Sexual Violence gathers statistics from multiple shelters/agencies across Nevada. The averages for the calendar year 2020 for certain services rose again when compared to 2019:

• NCEDSV reports Nevada domestic violence shelters combined numbers show a 13.9% increase in the number of adult/children “BED NIGHTS” provided (placement in a shelter or safe haven away from home).
• “BED NIGHT” raw numbers for the 2020 Calendar Year were 108,240 total for agencies *reporting to NCEDSV, compared to 94,980 in 2019.
• 2020 saw 24,365 Hotline Calls alone to agencies reporting to NCEDSV.
• The total number of “VICTIM CONTACTS,” including Hotline Calls, In-Person Assistance, Case Management, Medical Advocacy, and Exam Accompaniment cases in 2020 increased by 20.6% over 2019 reports.
• A total of 46,716 “VICTIM CONTACTS” were made to assistance agencies by victims in 2020, compared to 38,719 in 2019.
• The impact of COVID-19 varied from agency to agency, as they saw spikes for assistance at various times throughout the year, based on the local economy served.

GO PURPLE in October and help bring more awareness about domestic violence, and the amazing Nevada organizations providing life-changing assistance.

Nevada Locations Confirmed to Date to GO PURPLE for DVAM in October:

• October 1-7,11-18, & 25-31st – MEET LAS VEGAS Event Space, 233 S. 4th Street
• October 3 - Downtown Summerlin/ONE Summerlin shopping, 1980 Festival Plaza Dr., LV
• October 4-7 - Las Vegas Ballpark/LV Aviators Baseball, 1650 S. Pavilion Center Drive
• October 5-11 - Las Vegas City Hall, 495 S. Main Street
• October TBA - World Market Center Las Vegas, 475 S. Grand Central Parkway

Events

Advocacy organizations are holding events statewide all month. Please check out this link for a list of current events. 

What Is Domestic Violence?

According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, domestic violence is the willful intimidation, physical assault, battery, sexual assault, and/or other abusive behavior as part of a systematic pattern of power and control perpetrated by one intimate partner against another. Cases can include physical violence, sexual violence, psychological violence, and emotional abuse. The frequency and severity of each abuser may vary, but control and dominance over the victim is the constant, escalating theme.

What Does Abuse Include?

Abuse may begin with behaviors such as name-calling, threats, possessiveness, or distrust.

Abusers may apologize profusely for their actions, however, the violence and control commonly intensify over time with an abuser, despite the apologies. Abuse can continue escalating toward life-threatening situations. Examples of abusive tendencies include, but are not limited to:

• Telling the victim that they can never do anything right, including parenting and work
• Showing jealousy of the victim’s family/friends and time spent away
• Accusing the victim of cheating
• Keeping/discouraging the victim from seeing friends or family
• Taking control of all finances, the victim’s activities, their appearance
• Stalking the victim or monitoring their victim’s every move (in person or also via the internet/apps
• Preventing the victim from making their own decisions
• Threatening to hurt or kill the victim’s friends, loved ones, or pets
• Pressuring the victim to do drugs or alcohol, or have sex when they don’t want to, or do intimate things they are not comfortable with
• Destroying the victim’s property

Remember, HELP IS AVAILABLE in Nevada and every state. GET HELP for yourself, and yours. You deserve to live your life without domestic violence.

RESOURCES IN NEVADA

Visit the Marsy’s Law for Nevada website Resources page for a list of advocacy organizations across Nevada. MARSYSLAWforNV.com

Visit Nevada Coalition to End Domestic & Sexual Violence, NCEDSV.org

Visit the Washoe County DA at WashoeCounty.gov/da/victim_information.php

Visit the Nevada VICTIMS OF CRIME Resources page at Voc.nv.gov/VOC/HelpVictims/Visit Nevada 211 for statewide resources at Nevada211.org/crime-victim-support-services

For anonymous HOTLINES/confidential help 24/7, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 (SAFE) or 1-800-787-3224 (TTY).

HISTORY

1978 - The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence was established. The nonprofit was established to serve as the voice of victims and survivors.

1987 - The first National Domestic Violence Awareness Month began the push for change.

2018 - Marsy’s Law for Nevada was approved by voters to provide constitutional protections for victims of crime in Nevada.

Marsy’s Law for Nevada Guarantees Crime Victims:

• The Right to receive information about their rights, and the services available to crime victims.
• Right to be treated with fairness and respect throughout the criminal justice process.
• Right to be notified of a defendant’s impending release, and be protected from the defendant.
• Right to notice of all public proceedings in the case.
• Right to be reasonably heard, upon request, at all public proceedings regarding the case.
• Right to reasonably confer with the prosecuting agency, upon request, regarding the case.
• Right to full and timely restitution.

History of Marsy’s Law

The effort is named after Marsalee “Marsy” Nicholas who was murdered by her ex-boyfriend in California in 1983. A week later he was released pending his court proceedings and went face to face with the victim’s family, who had no idea he was out of jail. Today her family is working to secure a voice and protection for victims and their families, nationwide. Individual Marsy’s Law measures have now been approved in California, Illinois, North Dakota, South Dakota, Ohio, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Nevada.

Nearly 140-million people, or 40-percent of all Americans, now receive protected rights under Marsy’s Law.

Marsy’s Law Media Contacts

Deborah Clayton & Kim Schofield

[email protected]