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October’s Spotlight on National Domestic Violence Awareness Month

Posted by Joseph D. Lento | Oct 20, 2023 | 0 Comments

First recognized in 1989, October marks National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, a period dedicated to honoring survivors and advancing awareness of domestic violence. The awareness month seeks to educate the public about the signs of domestic violence, ways to prevent it when possible, and resources available for perpetrators seeking help.

There is hope if you are currently a perpetrator or a domestic violence victim! Various local, state, and federal resources and the United States legal system have policies and procedures in place to offer protective measures to your family. Contact Lento Law Firm's Family Law Team today for a confidential consultation by calling 888-535-3686 or by using our online contact form.

What Is Domestic Violence and Who Does It Affect

The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence defines domestic violence as “the willful intimidation, physical assault, battery, sexual assault, and/or abusive behavior as part of a systematic pattern of power and control” used by one partner against another.

Although any and every instance of domestic violence is one too many, recent statistics noted by the National Child Traumatic Stress Network suggest that while there has been a substantial decline in instances of domestic violence, 1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men have been abused by their partners. The Network further explains that this equates to an average of 20 victims per minute daily.

Domestic violence can happen to anyone in any part of the world. Regardless of income, status, or age, domestic violence is pervasive across all communities and impacts individuals irrespective of age, background, or identity. Though some instances of domestic violence are often isolated, it is often paired with emotional abuse and rooted in a system of control of dominance that the perpetrator may use to exert ongoing authority over their victim(s).

The Generational Cycle of Abuse

For many victims of domestic violence, the roots may run deep in their family's history, extending back multiple generations. Within this cycle, violence frequently repeats itself, creating a generational pattern of trauma and a hesitancy to recognize, challenge, and break the cycle. As summarized by the Office on Women's Health, children who witness or are victims of domestic violence are much more likely to be future perpetrators or victims of domestic violence than adults. This shows the effects that childhood trauma can have on us both in failing to recognize warning signs of violence and control our anger as adults.

Guidance From a Family Law Attorney

As briefly discussed above, domestic violence is a profoundly complex and multifaceted issue, demanding not only empathy and understanding but a realistic and concrete path forward. Our skilled Family Law Team can help you carve a path forward as a victim or perpetrator and discuss tangible, concrete steps to minimize the ramifications of the violence that has already started tearing your family apart.

For victims of domestic violence, we can help you apply for a restraining order that will apply an immediate layer of safety. If you have children, we can help you draft custody arrangements and visitation schedules, prioritizing their safety. For perpetrators, we acknowledge that everyone deserves a fair defense and can help you build a future life representing the change you are committed to making. Past mistakes do not have to mean you can never see your family and have a relationship with your children.

Our experience, combined with our holistic and compassionate approach, prioritizes your family and well-being. Beyond legal services, we can help you on your path to safety and change. Contact our Family Law Team today by calling 888-535-3686 or by using our online contact form.

About the Author

Joseph D. Lento

"I pride myself on having heart and driving hard to get results!" Attorney Joseph D. Lento is a veteran of one of the nation's busiest family courts with nearly 20 years' experience passionately helping families. By day, he worked in the trenches of family court, and at night, he studied the law. He helped countless families while working at family court, and he went on to become an attorney, dedicating his law practice to continuing the work he started years earlier. Mr. Lento's experience both behind the scenes and on the front lines allows him to understand a client's family law matter from all angles, and allows him to find and employ the most effective strategies to get favorable outcomes for any client. Joseph D. Lento is licensed in New Jersey and New York, and is admitted pro hac vice as needed nationwide. In the courtroom and in life, attorney Joseph D. Lento stands up when the bell rings! He does not settle for the easiest outcome, and instead prioritizes his clients' needs and protects their interests.

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Contact a Family Law Attorney Today!

Attorney Joseph D. Lento has more than a decade of experience practicing Family Law in New Jersey. If you are having any uncertainties about what the future may hold for you and your family, contact our offices today. Family Law Attorney Joseph Lento will go above and beyond the needs for any client and fight for what is fair.

This website was created only for general information purposes. It is not intended to be construed as legal advice for any situation. Only a direct consultation with a licensed Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York attorney can provide you with formal legal counsel based on the unique details surrounding your situation. The pages on this website may contain links and contact information for third party organizations - the Lento Law Firm does not necessarily endorse these organizations nor the materials contained on their website. In Pennsylvania, Attorney Joseph D. Lento represents clients throughout Pennsylvania's 67 counties, including, but not limited to Philadelphia, Allegheny, Berks, Bucks, Carbon, Chester, Dauphin, Delaware, Lancaster, Lehigh, Monroe, Montgomery, Northampton, Schuylkill, and York County. In New Jersey, attorney Joseph D. Lento represents clients throughout New Jersey's 21 counties: Atlantic, Bergen, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Essex, Gloucester, Hudson, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris, Ocean, Passaic, Salem, Somerset, Sussex, Union, and Warren County, In New York, Attorney Joseph D. Lento represents clients throughout New York's 62 counties. Outside of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York, unless attorney Joseph D. Lento is admitted pro hac vice if needed, his assistance may not constitute legal advice or the practice of law. The decision to hire an attorney in Philadelphia, the Pennsylvania counties, New Jersey, New York, or nationwide should not be made solely on the strength of an advertisement. We invite you to contact the Lento Law Firm directly to inquire about our specific qualifications and experience. Communicating with the Lento Law Firm by email, phone, or fax does not create an attorney-client relationship. The Lento Law Firm will serve as your official legal counsel upon a formal agreement from both parties. Any information sent to the Lento Law Firm before an attorney-client relationship is made is done on a non-confidential basis.

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