Domestic violence incidents are at an all-time high. Non-profit organizations, Citizens Agains Physical and Sexuall Abuse (CAPSA), Cache Valley law enforcement, and Mayor Holly Daines urge Utah residents to seek help if they find themselves in these types of situations.
“We want to get our job done as soon as we can, and we want to get our victims to CAPSA and the services they need earlier in the process rather than later when it may be too late," Chad Jensen said.
Jensen is the Cache County Sheriff and he attended the CAPSA media event on Wednesday. During the event, local law enforcement and leaders spoke about domestic violence incidents and thanked the community for help in a time where those incidents are rising dramatically in the state.
According to CAPSA executive director, Jill Anderson, the organization receives immense help from law enforcement and community members, and will need more support in the coming months.
“We’re just prepared to respond to this increase for the long term. And we’ll continue to reach out to community members, our community to help us be able to respond," she said.
Anderson said those who want to help can donate the types of items they would pick up for someone planning to stay at their house-- soap, lotion, tooth paste, ect.
Logan City Mayor Holly Daines said the city has been able to assist CAPSA by donating extra CARES money that came through community development block grant funding.
Daines urged survivors to reach out.
“I say call. If you call 911 you’ll get police officers. If you call the CAPSA crisis line you will get someone who always answers and can help you to the next step," she said.
During the pandemic, CAPSA is providing off-site shelter and additional volunteers to help on the crisis line during the influx of domestic violence cases.
