(PIKESVILLE, MD) – In support of the efforts of Governor Martin O’Malley to reduce domestic violence and related incidents of abuse, Maryland State Police are reminding citizens of resources available to them as part of Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
“No one should have to suffer abuse, whether that abuse is at the hands of a spouse, partner, parent, guardian, or bully,” Maryland State Police Superintendent Colonel Marcus L. Brown said. “Police at the local and state levels are trained and ready to take the appropriate criminal investigative and enforcement action needed in these situations. We are also able to connect you with the citizen support networks that are staffed with qualified and caring individuals who have been where you are and understand your fears and concerns. There is no need to suffer in silence. There is help available to end the cycle of violence you may be in and bring the appropriate person to justice.”
State troopers have made 346 arrests so far this year during the investigation of domestic violence cases. Troopers have also removed 77 firearms from homes where domestic violence has occurred.
Maryland State Police troopers are trained to use the Lethality Screen, developed by the Maryland Network Against Domestic Violence, when responding to a domestic abuse call. This screening process asks specific questions that help gauge the potential for lethal violence in that situation. Troopers can use that screening assessment to help develop the appropriate response to the situation, which can include the trooper making a call directing to a domestic violence hotline counselor and doing everything possible to engage the victim with the counselor.
Troopers are also trained to provide information to victims regarding the services available to support them. These services range from counseling to help them cope, to shelters to help protect them. Troopers are also trained to instruct victims on how to obtain protective orders.
State Police barracks that most often respond to reports of domestic violence have assigned a specific investigator to follow up on all cases. Those investigators review all domestic violence reports and coordinate with the local domestic violence crisis worker through Family and Children’s Services. Investigators assist with protective or peace orders and follow up to take photographs a day or two after the injury, when they are more evident. They coordinate with the domestic violence liaison in the local state’s attorney’s office and conduct additional interviews or investigation if necessary.
Persons who are being physically or sexually assaulted are encouraged to contact their local police or the state police barrack in their county. Those who would prefer to talk first with someone other than a police officer can call a variety of service agencies for help and advice. Listed below are agencies that provide assistance to those involved in domestic abuse, child abuse, elder abuse, or bullying situations.
Domestic Violence
House of Ruth
• www.hruth.org
• House of Ruth's 24-hour Hotline: (410) 889-RUTH (7884)
• House of Ruth's Community Advocates: (410)261-3016
• Spanish Language Line: (410) 554-8480
• Toll-Free Legal Hotline: 1-888-880-7884
Maryland Network Against Domestic Violence
• www.mnadv.org
• 1-800-MD-HELPS or (30) 352-4574
Email: info@mnadv.org
Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault
• www.mcasa.org
• (410) 974-4507
Maryland Safe at Home
• http://www.sos.state.md.us/ACP/SafeAtHome.aspx
The Women’s Law Center of Maryland
• www.wlcmd.org/domesticviolence.html
Suicide Prevention
Maryland Statewide Crisis Hotline/Maryland Youth Crisis Hotline
• 1-800-422-0009
Department of Health and Mental Hygiene: Commission on Suicide Prevention
• (410) 402-8490
• www.dhmh.maryland.gov/suicideprevention
Maryland Suicide Hotlines
• www.suicide.org/hotlines/maryland-suicide-hotlines.html
Mental Health Association of Maryland
• www.mhamd.org
Bullying Resources
Maryland State Department of Education
• Dominic Romano, Education Program Specialist
• (410) 767-0301
Maryland Bullying Prevention Initiative
• 1-800-257-7810
Children's Mental Health Matters!
• www.childrensmentalhealthmatters.org
Child Protective Services/Child Abuse
Allegany County
• (301) 784-7050
Anne Arundel County
• (410) 421-8400 (24 hours)
Baltimore City
• (410) 361-2235 (24 hours)
Baltimore County
• (410) 853-3000 (Option 1)
• After hours: (410) 583-9398
Calvert County
• (443) 550-6900
• After hours: (Toll Free: 1-800-787-9428)
Caroline County
• (410) 819-4500
• After hours: (410) 479-2515 Sheriff's Office.
Carroll County
• (410) 386-3434 (24 Hours)
Cecil County
• (410) 996-0100 (Option 3)
• After hours: (410) 996-5350
Charles County
• (301) 392-6739
• After hours: (301) 932-2222
Dorchester County
• (410) 901-4100
• After hours: (410) 221-3246
Frederick County
• (301) 600-2464
• After hours: (301) 600-2100 Police Dept.
Garrett County
• (301) 533-3005
• After hours: (301) 334-1930 Sheriff's Office
Harford County
• (410) 836-4713
• After hours: (410) 838-6600 Sheriff's Office
Howard County
• Tel: (410) 872-4203
• After hours: (410) 313-2929 Police Dept.
Kent County
• Tel: (410) 810-7600
• After hours: (410) 758-1101 State Police
Montgomery County
• Tel: (240) 777-4417 (24 hours)
Prince George's County
• Tel: (301) 909-2450
• After hours: (301) 699-8605
Queen Anne's County
• Tel: (410) 758-8000 (all hours)
• After hours: (410) 758-0770 Sheriff's Office
St. Mary's County
• Tel: (240) 895-7016
• After hours: (301) 475-8016
Somerset County
• Tel: (410) 677-4200
• After hours: (410) 651-9225 Sheriff's Office Central, Emergency Services
Talbot County
• Tel: (410) 770-4848 (option#1)
• After hours: (410) 822-3101 MD State Police
Washington County
• Tel: (240) 420-2222 (24 hours)
Wicomico County
• Tel: (410) 713-3900 (option#1)
• After hours: (410) 548-4891
Worcester County
• Tel: (410) 677-6800
• After hours: (410) 632-1111 (option#2) Sheriff's Office
Elder Abuse
Neglect and Abuse Hotline
• 1-800-917-7383
“No one should have to suffer abuse, whether that abuse is at the hands of a spouse, partner, parent, guardian, or bully,” Maryland State Police Superintendent Colonel Marcus L. Brown said. “Police at the local and state levels are trained and ready to take the appropriate criminal investigative and enforcement action needed in these situations. We are also able to connect you with the citizen support networks that are staffed with qualified and caring individuals who have been where you are and understand your fears and concerns. There is no need to suffer in silence. There is help available to end the cycle of violence you may be in and bring the appropriate person to justice.”
State troopers have made 346 arrests so far this year during the investigation of domestic violence cases. Troopers have also removed 77 firearms from homes where domestic violence has occurred.
Maryland State Police troopers are trained to use the Lethality Screen, developed by the Maryland Network Against Domestic Violence, when responding to a domestic abuse call. This screening process asks specific questions that help gauge the potential for lethal violence in that situation. Troopers can use that screening assessment to help develop the appropriate response to the situation, which can include the trooper making a call directing to a domestic violence hotline counselor and doing everything possible to engage the victim with the counselor.
Troopers are also trained to provide information to victims regarding the services available to support them. These services range from counseling to help them cope, to shelters to help protect them. Troopers are also trained to instruct victims on how to obtain protective orders.
State Police barracks that most often respond to reports of domestic violence have assigned a specific investigator to follow up on all cases. Those investigators review all domestic violence reports and coordinate with the local domestic violence crisis worker through Family and Children’s Services. Investigators assist with protective or peace orders and follow up to take photographs a day or two after the injury, when they are more evident. They coordinate with the domestic violence liaison in the local state’s attorney’s office and conduct additional interviews or investigation if necessary.
Persons who are being physically or sexually assaulted are encouraged to contact their local police or the state police barrack in their county. Those who would prefer to talk first with someone other than a police officer can call a variety of service agencies for help and advice. Listed below are agencies that provide assistance to those involved in domestic abuse, child abuse, elder abuse, or bullying situations.
Domestic Violence
House of Ruth
• www.hruth.org
• House of Ruth's 24-hour Hotline: (410) 889-RUTH (7884)
• House of Ruth's Community Advocates: (410)261-3016
• Spanish Language Line: (410) 554-8480
• Toll-Free Legal Hotline: 1-888-880-7884
Maryland Network Against Domestic Violence
• www.mnadv.org
• 1-800-MD-HELPS or (30) 352-4574
Email: info@mnadv.org
Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault
• www.mcasa.org
• (410) 974-4507
Maryland Safe at Home
• http://www.sos.state.md.us/ACP/SafeAtHome.aspx
The Women’s Law Center of Maryland
• www.wlcmd.org/domesticviolence.html
Suicide Prevention
Maryland Statewide Crisis Hotline/Maryland Youth Crisis Hotline
• 1-800-422-0009
Department of Health and Mental Hygiene: Commission on Suicide Prevention
• (410) 402-8490
• www.dhmh.maryland.gov/suicideprevention
Maryland Suicide Hotlines
• www.suicide.org/hotlines/maryland-suicide-hotlines.html
Mental Health Association of Maryland
• www.mhamd.org
Bullying Resources
Maryland State Department of Education
• Dominic Romano, Education Program Specialist
• (410) 767-0301
Maryland Bullying Prevention Initiative
• 1-800-257-7810
Children's Mental Health Matters!
• www.childrensmentalhealthmatters.org
Child Protective Services/Child Abuse
Allegany County
• (301) 784-7050
Anne Arundel County
• (410) 421-8400 (24 hours)
Baltimore City
• (410) 361-2235 (24 hours)
Baltimore County
• (410) 853-3000 (Option 1)
• After hours: (410) 583-9398
Calvert County
• (443) 550-6900
• After hours: (Toll Free: 1-800-787-9428)
Caroline County
• (410) 819-4500
• After hours: (410) 479-2515 Sheriff's Office.
Carroll County
• (410) 386-3434 (24 Hours)
Cecil County
• (410) 996-0100 (Option 3)
• After hours: (410) 996-5350
Charles County
• (301) 392-6739
• After hours: (301) 932-2222
Dorchester County
• (410) 901-4100
• After hours: (410) 221-3246
Frederick County
• (301) 600-2464
• After hours: (301) 600-2100 Police Dept.
Garrett County
• (301) 533-3005
• After hours: (301) 334-1930 Sheriff's Office
Harford County
• (410) 836-4713
• After hours: (410) 838-6600 Sheriff's Office
Howard County
• Tel: (410) 872-4203
• After hours: (410) 313-2929 Police Dept.
Kent County
• Tel: (410) 810-7600
• After hours: (410) 758-1101 State Police
Montgomery County
• Tel: (240) 777-4417 (24 hours)
Prince George's County
• Tel: (301) 909-2450
• After hours: (301) 699-8605
Queen Anne's County
• Tel: (410) 758-8000 (all hours)
• After hours: (410) 758-0770 Sheriff's Office
St. Mary's County
• Tel: (240) 895-7016
• After hours: (301) 475-8016
Somerset County
• Tel: (410) 677-4200
• After hours: (410) 651-9225 Sheriff's Office Central, Emergency Services
Talbot County
• Tel: (410) 770-4848 (option#1)
• After hours: (410) 822-3101 MD State Police
Washington County
• Tel: (240) 420-2222 (24 hours)
Wicomico County
• Tel: (410) 713-3900 (option#1)
• After hours: (410) 548-4891
Worcester County
• Tel: (410) 677-6800
• After hours: (410) 632-1111 (option#2) Sheriff's Office
Elder Abuse
Neglect and Abuse Hotline
• 1-800-917-7383
Maryland State Police Press Release
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