Domestic and sexual violence affect our families, homes, communities, schools, and workplaces daily. Domestic and sexual violence impact all socio-economic levels, cultures, and religions. Whether the impact is open and obvious, such as a tragic homicide that receives media attention and spurs a community to action, or hidden and subtle, such as the emotional and psychological effect on children who silently live with the violence, domestic and sexual violence can pervade even the deepest levels of our society.

The available data highlights the impact of these crimes in Virginia. In 2022, there were more than 78,956 calls to domestic and sexual violence hotlines across the state.(*1) A total of 3,710 adults and 2,568 children received 241,641 nights of emergency or temporary shelter due to domestic violence. In 2022, there was a growing need for emergency, transitional, and self-supported housing to meet the needs of survivors in Virginia. Emergency housing was requested in 24% of hotline contacts. However, 51% of these requests could not be met. The number of requests for emergency shelter when space was unavailable has increased from 173% since 2021. The total number of children and youth receiving services increased by 16%.(*2) A total of 56,672 emergency protective orders were issued by magistrates and judges across the Commonwealth to protect the immediate health and safety of victims and their family members.(*3)

In 2022 and 2023, Virginia’s state and local agencies and organizations provided tools and resources to prosecutors, law enforcement officers, victim advocates, health care providers, social service providers, and allied professionals. State, local, and private partners also promoted public awareness and prevention initiatives and supported collaborative efforts among agencies and organizations to enhance the overall response to domestic and sexual violence, stalking, and human trafficking. In addition, state, local, and private partners to continue to serve the Commonwealth by a providing assistance, advocacy, counseling, shelter, etc. for victims of domestic and sexual violence and resource trainings for allied professionals and stakeholders. For example:

• In CY2022-23, The CASC’s designated sexual and domestic violence resource prosecutor organized and implemented over 50 hours of continuing legal education (CLE) credit for Virginia’s prosecutors on issues related to the investigation and prosecution of domestic and sexual violence and stalking cases. That training included 4 hours of instruction specifically focused on ethical issues that arise in the investigation and prosecution of these cases. 30 hours of in-service PIC credit training was provided to officers in the area of domestic violence and sexual assault.(*4)

• The OAG’s Sexual Assault Kit Testing Initiative (SAKI) developed a 2-day training called Trauma-Informed Sexual Assault Investigations and facilitates it monthly across the commonwealth. This initiative is based on the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP)’s training, is focused on improving Virginia’s response to sexual violence by teaching best practices for investigating sex crimes, and is certified for partial in-service credits for law enforcement.(*5)

• In 2022, the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) OAG secured a contract with a private lab to retest pre-databank PERKs. SAKI coordinated shipping for 467 PERKs from law enforcement agencies to the lab. Testing of 81 PERKs was completed by the end of 2022.(*6)

• In 2022, the Office of the Executive Secretary for the Supreme Court of Virginia (OES) provided training on domestic violence issues to judges, magistrates, and district court clerks. This includes training delivered at OES-sponsored events, online education, and print information and resources. In 2022, OES-sponsored domestic violence training for judges included two in-person sessions for newly appointed judges at their pre-bench training, and three domestic violence sessions for district court judges at their mandatory annual conference in August of 2022 in Roanoke, Virginia.

• Effective July 1, 2022, the Hope Card Program has been expanded to all localities in the Commonwealth of Virginia, pursuant to Virginia Code § 19.2-152.10:1. In 2022, a total of 2253 Hope Cards were issued across the Commonwealth. In addition, 11 Hope Card training sessions took place in 2022 with 762 persons trained, most of whom were clerks of court. In 2023, 1,609 Hope Cards were issued and one training session occurred resulting in 30 legal and law enforcement personnel trained.(*7)

• The Domestic Violence Action Team (DVAT), a statewide multidisciplinary team focused on improving domestic violence services, completed the first phase of the Promising Practices Guide (PPG) based on requests from the field and a recognition of gaps in service across the Commonwealth. The PPG is a series of entries highlighting various subject areas that were identified through a DVAT exploratory process and that relate to domestic violence programming and services. The PPG is unique in that it will advance the needs of survivors through a trauma-informed lens while including opportunities to reflect on the racial justice and social justice impact of an entry. These entries include concrete strategies for implementing promising practices and highlight domestic violence programs in Virginia who are already making strides in certain programmatic areas.(*8)

In addition, these agencies and organizations identified and collected data on family and intimate partner violence-related fatalities, domestic and sexual violence-related crimes, protective orders, and services to victims and children to assist with providing a broader picture of these issues that confront our communities. Much of that information is included in this Report.

We must continue to support the efforts of agencies and programs across the Commonwealth that work tirelessly to promote victim safety and offender accountability, while learning new ways to provide services both efficiently and effectively.
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(*1) Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance, Domestic Violence Services in Virginia – VAdata Report 2022 (2023).
(*2) Id.
(*3) Information provided by the Office of the Executive Secretary, Supreme Court of Virginia.
(*4) Information provided by the Commonwealth’s Attorneys Services Council
(*5) Information provided by the Office of the Attorney General
(*6) Id.
(*7) Information provided by the Office of the Executive Secretary, Supreme Court of Virginia
(*8) Information provided by the Department of Social Services, Office of Family Violence