Burlington County Honors Victims of Domestic Abuse

Burlington County honored residents who lost their lives as a result of domestic violence during a ceremony that urged those who are presently in an abusive relationship to seek help from social service professionals whose mission is to assist victims of domestic violence.

“Each year we hold this event as a very important message to those suffering through domestic violence that they are not alone,” Burlington County Sheriff Jean Stanfield said during the The Silent Witness Project at Rowan College at Burlington County’s Mount Holly Center on Friday. “Burlington County has a wonderful support network, and we are all here to help those who are being battered in any way we can.”

The purpose of the ceremony is to remember victims of domestic violence, as well as to raise public awareness about the problem and stress that assistance is available to those in abusive relationships or situations.

It featured several life-sized silhouettes that represent citizens of Burlington County who lost their lives due to domestic violence.

“We offer our support to victims of domestic violence and join with Silent Witness in honoring those who have tragically lost their lives,” Rowan College at Burlington County President Paul Drayton said.

“We remember those who lost their lives to violence and recommit ourselves to preventing future tragedies,” Mary Pettrow, the associate director of Providence House Domestic Violence Services, said.

Keynote speaker Burlington County Prosecutor Robert D. Bernardi urged people who have knowledge of a domestic violence situation to take action to help those being abused.

“People who are aware of such abuse need to make it their business to become involved,” Bernardi said. “There can be no other approach if we are to continue to make progress. Domestic violence is not something that happened because the victim provoked it. It’s abuse. It cannot be ignored, and society has labeled it a crime.”

Providence House, which provides comprehensive services for victims of domestic abuse and their children free of charge, sponsored the event along with the Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office, the Burlington County Sheriff’s Office, Rowan College at Burlington County, Soroptimist of Burlington County and Servicios Latinos de Burlington County.

The Silent Witness Project traces its origin to Minnesota in 1990 when a group of artists created an exhibit of life-sized silhouettes, each representing a murdered victim of domestic violence in their state. It has since become a collaborative effort to honor victims lost due to acts of domestic violence in communities throughout the nation. There were 64,556 domestic violence offenses reported in New Jersey in 2013, which is the most recent year for which statistics are available. That number represents a 1 percent decrease from 2012. Of those who were abused in New Jersey in 2013, 44 were killed, compared with 38 the previous year. In Burlington County there were 3,611 domestic violence offenses reported during 2013, a decrease of 55 from 2012.

Anyone who is being abused or knows someone who is being abused is asked to call the Providence House domestic violence hotline at 1-877-871-7551.

The attached images were provided by the Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office:

Photo 1 is of Burlington County Prosecutor Robert D. Bernardi addressing those gathered at the Silent Witness Project memorial ceremony in Mount Holly.

Photo 2 is of Mary Pettrow, associate director of Providence House Domestic Violence Services, addressing those gathered at the Silent Witness Project memorial ceremony in Mount Holly.