Legal Aid of North Carolina responds to state’s increase in domestic violence homicides with campaign that uplifts survivors

Organization received $500,000 grant from the Governor’s Crime Commission

RALEIGH, NC – August 17 2023 – Today, Legal Aid of North Carolina announced it has been awarded a $500,000 grant from the Governor’s Crime Commission, the chief advisory body on crime and justice issues to North Carolina’s Governor and Secretary of Public Safety, to support survivors of domestic violence, while also increasing awareness and education statewide.

Domestic violence related homicides in 2023 have also been increasing. Within the first six months of the year, 39 homicides have been reported, according to the North Carolina Coalition Against Domestic Violence Fatality Report.  In addition, from 2019 to 2021, there were more than 138,300 reports of assaults committed by former intimate partners or family members, according to the Criminal Justice Analysis Center, North Carolina’s Statistical Analysis Center.

“With the support of the Governor’s Crime Commission, we launched stopthecyclenc.org and will continue to come alongside survivors of domestic violence to empower and support them with services that can help them achieve stability and a path to independence,” said TeAndra Miller, project manager of Legal Aid North Carolina’s Domestic Violence Prevention Initiative. “This grant will also allow us to focus on educating and engaging residents throughout North Carolina about legal services and the resources that are available.”

The Governor’s Crime Commission (GCC) annually awards state and federal grants to North Carolina law enforcement, governmental bodies and related non-profit agencies.

Legal Aid of North Carolina will direct efforts towards launching an integrated domestic violence awareness campaign runs through National Domestic Violence Awareness Month in October. The campaign will include:

  • An interactive website stopthecyclenc.org, which will include resources for survivors
  • Compelling creative statewide outreach and events to increase awareness of services that are available through Legal Aid of North Carolina for survivors
  • A powerful documentary that provides an intimate look at stories of domestic violence survivors in North Carolina and a series of documentary screenings throughout the state to uplift and provide survivors with resources

About Legal Aid of North Carolina

Rooted in more than 40 years of experience, Legal Aid of North Carolina has provided legal assistance to any victim of domestic violence, sexual assault and human trafficking, regardless of income or immigration status. Legal Aid of North Carolina is a statewide, nonprofit law firm that provides free legal services in civil matters to low-income people in order to ensure equal access to justice and to remove legal barriers to economic opportunity. Learn more at legalaidnc.org.