AUGUSTA, Maine — To expand education and prevention for domestic abuse, a biennial report released Wednesday gives insight into former homicide cases and how to improve safety in Maine.
"I ask all Maine people to remember that domestic violence affects everyone of every age, of every gender, every circumstance," Governor Janet Mills said at a presentation of the report, touching on her own experiences with domestic abuse in her past.
Put together by the Maine Domestic Abuse Homicide Review Panel, the 14th report entitled "The Power of Collaboration: From Intervention to Prevention" analyzes homicide cases from the past three years to improve resources and encourage legislation to fill in previous shortcomings.
"These individuals take their talent, take their time dedicated to helping the state of Maine understand how it is that we can all do better," Attorney General Aaron Frey said.
"In the past year, domestic violence resource centers across Maine provided services for over 15,000 people," Executive Director Francine Stark said. "This report should serve as a clarion call, to recognize that domestic abuse and violence can be lethal."
According to its findings, almost half of the close to 30 murders since 2020 were the result of a domestic violence situation.
"Substance use co-occurred with over half of the homicides, and 30 percent of the perpetrators had committed domestic violence against multiple intimate partners," Stark added.
Although the cause of death varied from the use of knives, strangulation, other kinds of physical force, or drug use, close to 60 percent of deaths were the result of a firearm.
"In the past year, domestic violence resource centers across Maine provided services for over fifteen thousand people," Executive Director Francine Stark said. "This report should serve as a clarion call, to recognize that domestic abuse and violence can be lethal."
Presenters of the report also gave recommendations for the future, which include increased support for traumatized children in dangerous situations as well as senior adults dealing with domestic abuse. According to the report, adults 55 and older were the majority of domestic violence victims in the past couple of years.
If you are in an unsafe relationship or you have concerns for a friend or family member, you can call the Maine Coalition to End Domestic Violence's 24-hour hotline at 1-866-834-HELP.