October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, reminding us that this crime hits especially hard in Arizona. Domestic violence is the most common violent crime in our State. The statistics are staggering:

• In 2004, there were 80 domestic violence related homicides in Arizona. Nine of the victims were under 18 years old.
• A woman is murdered by her husband or boyfriend every four days in Arizona.
• Seventy percent of all known domestic violence-related deaths in Arizona involve a firearm.
• In Arizona, two out of every three women who seek shelter will be turned away because of lack of space.
• Every 36 seconds, a child will witness an act of domestic violence.
• Every five minutes, police respond to a call involving domestic violence.

Earlier this year, my Office joined forces with the Arizona Coalition Against Domestic Violence and the Arizona State Board of Cosmetology to launch CUT IT OUT. This common sense program draws on the cosmetology community's unique skills and access to women by providing salon professionals the training and information they need to assist domestic violence victims in getting help.

The Arizona Coalition Against Domestic Violence is conducting training sessions at Arizona's 43 cosmetology schools and at hair shows. The State Board of Cosmetology is distributing informational materials to approximately 4,500 salons in Arizona. For more information, see our Domestic Violence page.

Domestic violence is not just a family issue or a women's issue – it is a community issue and everyone's business. Because no part of our State is immune from domestic violence, this month the Attorney General’s Office revised and improved our own procedures for identifying and reporting evidence of domestic violence among our co-workers. Working together, it is my hope that someday soon we won't need a Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

Terry Goddard