The San Antonio Metropolitan Health District is asking businesses and residents to weigh in on an ordinance that would require businesses to post signage in their restrooms about domestic violence resources.
It’s intended to complement state-mandated signage about preventing human trafficking, according to a Metro Health news release.
People can submit feedback on the potential mandate, whether there should be a voluntary program for public places to post signage and how businesses can help support victims of domestic violence through a survey at saspeakup.com/dvsignage.
“The holidays can become stressful and dangerous for those who are in abusive relationships,” Erica Haller-Stevenson, public health administrator at Metro Health, said in the release. “We remind the community that domestic violence does not take a holiday and safety planning is critical this season for victims.”
A recent Express-News investigation, “ Nowhere to Hide, ” focused on a surge in family violence killings in San Antonio.
Reporters interviewed survivors of abuse, police, prosecutors, judges and experts in the field, and analyzed police and court records to create a database of family violence fatalities. They documented breakdowns in the justice system and a lack of accountability for abusers and support for victims.
In response to the investigation, Bexar County officials in December approved $3.3 million to hire 14 more family violence prosecutors, investigators and victim advocates and to set up two temporary courts to handle a backlog of misdemeanor family violence cases.
Victims of domestic violence can call 911 in an emergency. They can also call 211 or the San Antonio Police Department’s nonemergency line at 210-207-7273.
The Bexar County Family Justice Center, Family Violence Prevention Services, Texas Rio Grande Legal Aid and the Rape Crisis Center also offer services. The National Domestic Violence Hotline operates 24/7: 1-800-799-SAFE (7233).
madison.iszler@express-news.net