While Calvert County has made strides in being responsive to the scourge of domestic violence, the county’s director of the Crisis Intervention Center and Safe Harbor Domestic Violence Shelter told the Calvert County Commissioners Tuesday, Oct. 1 that statistics show it remains a significant problem. “Over 400 orders of protection were granted by our courts in 2012,” said David Gale. “Our State’s Attorney’s Office prosecuted 396 cases and had 103 cases pending and 37 outstanding warrants as of January 1, 2013.”
Gale, along with Crisis Intervention staff and the Calvert County Commission for Women received a proclamation declaring October Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
Gale noted one domestic violence-related death in Calvert County. “Last January, Amanda Foster of Lusby was stabbed to death by her boyfriend,” said Gale. Foster’s confessed killer, John Warren Gibson Jr., 26, entered an Alford plea to a charge of first-degree murder this summer. Gibson’s sentencing on the charge is tentatively scheduled for Nov. 4.
“Last year the Crisis Intervention Center served over 900 residents—women, men and children, victims and offenders last year and provided over 12,000 units of service to these residents,” said Gale. “Our hotline answered over 10,000 calls last year.”
The Safe Harbor Shelter in Prince Frederick continues to provide protection to women and their children victimized by domestic violence. In 2012 the shelter provided over 4,100 bed nights to nearly 60 residents and their children.
Among the activities planned by the Crisis Intervention Center, which is part of the Calvert County Health Department, is the Clothesline Project. According to center officials, the project involves T-shirts made by domestic violence survivors. The shirts are emblazoned with positive messages and hanged in numerous locations, such as the Prince Frederick Library, the county courthouse lobby and the College of Southern Maryland.
On Oct. 22 the Crisis Intervention Center and Calvert Commission for Women will host a candlelight vigil at the county courthouse square. The vigil begins at 7 p.m. and will be followed by a recognition ceremony at the Albright Building meeting room at 7:30 p.m. As of Oct. 1 the center was still accepting nominations to honor those who have helped others living in domestic violence.
The two entities will collaborate again Oct. 26 to host “In Our Own Voice—Personal Perspectives on Domestic and Sexual Violence, Healing a
