Data Insights: Domestic Violence Awareness Month
The King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office is marking Domestic Violence Awareness Month by sharing an update on our domestic violence (DV) and victim services work, as well as how the public can get help.
Domestic Violence in King County
From reviewing law enforcement referrals, to rush filing cases, to making sentencing recommendations, our prosecutors handle every domestic violence felony from all parts of King County. In 2024, our office is on track to charge 1,100 felony domestic violence cases, stabilizing after seeing an increase during the pandemic.
Domestic violence deaths also appear to be stabilizing. In 2024, there have been 15 domestic violence violent deaths (through August) — on pace for fewer than last year, and continuing a multi-year decline since the pandemic peak (32 in 2022).
Although no longer officially part of our Domestic Violence Unit, the Survivors FIRST (Facilitating Information and Resources for Survivors of Trauma) has continued its innovative work. This program is a partnership between YWCA and the King County Prosecuting Attorney and directly connects survivor-defendants to intervention services without criminal charges. Survivors FIRST has had promising growth following the move to make it part of all the PAO’s mainstream alternatives work. It appears the program will service roughly 300 cases by the end of the year — up from roughly 200 in 2023 and 2022. Of note, the program is now national with pilot sites in Portland and Nashville.
Protecting Victims & Survivors
In 2023, our team assisted 3,226 petitioners seeking Domestic Violence Protection Orders against intimate partners. Our protection order advocates helped survivors seeking protection orders in 5,308 walk-in, phone, and virtual calls for assistance.
Overall, there’s been a 28% increase in protection order filings since 2019.
Since 2019, there’s been a 42% increase in Sexual Assault Protection Oder Filings, an 81% increase in Extreme Risk Protection Order Filings, and a 191% increase in Anti Harassment Order filings.
And since launching on June 21, 2024, 790 individuals have accessed our new Protection Order Portal to prepare Civil Protection Order petitions.
How to Get Help
Recognize signs of abuse: https://wscadv.org/resources/friends-family-guide/
National Domestic Violence Hotline (available 24/7): 1–800–799–7233
If you know someone who needs a protection order, they can be filed remotely: protectionorder.org. You can also learn about the proess by watching the videos below:
