Wilmington
– Attorney General Beau Biden joined Governor Jack Markell, Senator Patricia Blevins,
Representative Michael Barbieri, and other state officials today in praising advocates for their hard

work helping domestic violence survivors. Biden spoke at a ceremony where Markell declared

October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month in Delaware.

“I’m proud that our efforts this past year to enact tough laws against strangulation and to extend

Protection From Abuse orders put Delaware on the leading edge of protecting women and their

families from the destruction of domestic violence,” Attorney General Biden stated. “The coordinated

effort among legislators, law enforcement, government agencies, community members, and advocates

to put an end to these crimes is representative of what’s best about our state. Though we’ve made great

strides since the Violence Against Women Act was enacted 16 years ago, domestic violence still

occurs far too often, whether in the form of emotional trauma, broken bones, or homicide. Our fight to

protect these innocent victims and punish their abusers never ends.”

Biden has made standing up for domestic violence victims a top priority since taking office

four years ago. He created a Family Division within the Department of Justice to focus exclusively on

crimes against women, children, the elderly, and the abused. This year his office worked with the

Governor and legislators to give survivors of domestic violence stronger legal protections. Under

House Bill 336, the length of Protection From Abuse orders at least doubles — to two years — and in

some cases, survivors can receive lifetime protection orders. Senate Bill 197 creates a stand-alone

felony crime of strangulation, which is a leading indicator of domestic violence deaths, and allows

prosecutors to seek prison terms for abusers.

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