October is officially dives- uh, Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

And I did put out a press release, uh, indicating some of the initiatives that we've taken as an office with respect to the awareness of domestic violence, specifically in Sullivan County.

So I'd like to, uh, provide you with a report from our office, so if this board will indulge me briefly.

It's worth remembering how far we've come in our understanding of domestic violence as a society.

For much of our history, abuse at home was treated as a private family matter.

Mm.

In 1871, Alabama and Mississippi became the first states to outlaw wife beating.

And in 1882, Maryland became the first state to criminalize it.