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For Immediate Release

Monday, October 6, 2014

Contact
Sean Hudson, shudson@flclerks.com, 850.921.0808
Sarah Bascom, sarah@bascomllc.com, 850.294.6636
Kristen Bridges, kristen@bascomllc.com, 850.545.1917

Florida Court Clerks & Comptrollers Assist
Domestic Violence Victims Year-round
Florida Court Clerks & Comptrollers Shine Light on Domestic Violence Awareness Month

Tallahassee, Fla. The Florida Court Clerks & Comptrollers today shined light on domestic violence
awareness month at a statewide press event in Tallahassee to get the word out that the local Clerks
offices in all 67 counties provide assistance to domestic violence victims year-round.

In America today, one in four women and one in seven men suffer physical violence at the hands of a
loved one, said St. Lucie County Clerk Joe Smith, president of the Florida Court Clerks &
Comptrollers. When applied to the State of Florida, these statistics are staggering and show what a
tremendous impact domestic violence has on our local communities.

Many think of the Clerks offices as the provider for checks and balances in county government, where
Floridas Court Clerks and Comptrollers perform duties as the record keepers or internal auditor of
county funds; however, the Clerks roles go far above and beyond that.

Floridas Court Clerks are committed to assisting domestic violence victims throughout the entire
process of filing reports and connecting victims with advocacy programs. Floridas Court Clerks are
sensitive to the needs of domestic violence survivors and take confidentiality and discretion very
seriously. And, the Court Clerks work very closely with the local sheriffs offices, ensuring both safety
and justice are achieved for victims and their families.

During the month of October, Floridas Court Clerks encourage residents across the state to not remain
silent upon experiencing, witnessing or hearing about an incident of domestic violence, said Clerk
Smith. We urge victims to use our offices as a resource and visit MyFloridaClerks.com to learn more
on how their local Clerks office can help year-round.

This is a real problem and to some extent an invisible problem in our community and one that we want
to shine a light on, said Leon County Clerk & Comptroller Bob Inzer. Last year alone, we had over
1,300 citizens come to the Leon County Clerks Office to file for relief from domestic violence. I think
I can speak for not only our office but the judiciary and the sheriff in saying that we are committed to
providing victims of domestic violence as much protection as provided by law and to ensure that there is
no delay in addressing their needs or their safety.


FLORIDA COURT CLERKS & COMPTROLLERS | PAGE 2
Domestic violence is a crime that has a devastating effect on our communities, our neighborhoods and
in our homes, said Tiffany Carr, president & CEO of the Florida Coalition Against Domestic Violence.
The work to end domestic violence takes all of us supporting survivors and their children, and holding
perpetrators of violence accountable. The Florida Coalition Against Domestic Violence commends the
Florida Court Clerks & Comptrollers for standing up and speaking out about domestic violence. The
more awareness and education about domestic violence the more lives will be saved.

The life-saving partnership between Refuge House and the Leon County Clerk of Courts Office began
in 1992, over 20 years ago, said Emily Mitchem, assistant director of Refuge House, whose domestic
violence center serves Leon County and the surrounding seven counties of the Big Bend. Because of
the support of the Clerk of Court, victims of domestic violence can meet with a specially trained Refuge
House counsellor, right in the Leon County Courthouse, for assistance in safety planning, information
about the injunction process and access to comprehensive domestic violence services. Under Bob
Inzers leadership, we work as a coordinated team on behalf of victim safety and access to justice.

Also in attendance for the Florida Court Clerks & Comptrollers were Wakulla County Clerk Brent
Thurmond, Liberty County Clerk Kathy Brown, Calhoun County Clerk Carla Hand and Indian River
County Clerk Jeffrey Smith.

For more information on the Florida Court Clerks & Comptrollers and its Domestic Violence Awareness
Initiative, please visit MyFloridaClerks.com.

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