Meeting Date: January 20, 2015 Prepared By/Phone Number: Gretta Gardner, Counseling & Education Services Family Violence Director, 854-5484 @ Elected/Appointed Official/Dept. Head: Roger Jefferies, Justice an Public Safety County Executive, 854-4759/ Caryl Colburn, Counseling Education Services Director, 854-4618 Commissioners Court Sponsor: County Judge Sarah Eckhardt and Margaret Gomez, Commissioner, Precinct 2

AGENDA LANGUAGE: Proclaim January 2015 as Stalking Awareness Month in honor of all stalking victims and survivors and in support of all the collaborative efforts to not only reduce, but to ultimately end domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking in Travis County.

BACKGROUND/SUMMARY OF REQUEST AND ATTACHMENTS: On behalf of the Austin/Travis County Family Violence Task Force, CES requests that January 2015, the National Stalking Awareness Month, be observed in Travis County by the Commissioners Court by reading the attached proclamation. See Attachment A.

It is imperative for the community to be aware of the devastating impact stalking has on families and the community at large, so we can speak out against this silent, but threatening crime with one voice. More awareness and education will galvanize the community to embrace a unified philosophy and vision on how to end stalking and to participate in the initiatives of the Austin/Travis County Task Force to achieve this goal.

STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS: Staff recommends that the Stalking Proclamation be read to the Travis County community on January 20, 2015 by the Commissioners Court.

ISSUES AND OPPORTUNITIES: This is an opportunity to spread the word about other activities being planned in Austin/Travis County for the month of October, such as: 1. Travis County Commissioners Court Proclamation, January 20'h

AGENDA REQUEST DEADLINE: All agenda requests and supporting materials must be submitted as a pdf to Joe Hon in the County Judge's office, Joe.Hon@traviscountytx.gov by Tuesdays at 5:00p.m. for the next week's meeting.

Item 2FILED FOR RECORD

1/20/2015 9:00 AMDana Debeauvoir - County Clerk, Travis County,TX

2. The Stalking Resource Center of The National Center for Victims of Crime will conduct a training on stalking on January 23rd from 12:00- 1:30 p.m. for the Austin/Travis County Family Violence Task Force community at 700 Lavaca - Room B. The training is free. 2. The Austin/Travis County Family Violence Task Force will conduct II In Her Shoes" training to any agency or entity that requests it.

FISCAL IMPACT AND SOURCE OF FUNDING: There is no fiscal impact.

REQUIRED AUTHORIZATIONS: Roger Jefferies, Justice and Public Safety County Executive Caryl Colburn, Counseling & Education Services Director

AGENDA REQUEST DEADLINE: All agenda requests and supporting materials must be submitted as a pdf to Joe Hon in the County Judge's office, Joe.Hon@traviscountytx.gov by Tuesdays at 5:00 p.m. for the next week's meeting.

1Yavis County Commissioners Court

National Stalking Awareness Month January 2015

Whereas, under the laws of all fifty states, the U.S. Territories, the District of Columbia, and federal government, stalking is a crime;

Whereas, 7.5 million people were stalked in one year in the United States, and the majority of victims are stalked by someone they know;

Whereas, 3 in 4 women killed by an intimate partner had been stalked by that intimate partner;

fVhereas, many stalking victims lose time from work and experience serious psychological distress and lost productivity at a much higher rate than the general population;

Whereas, many stalking victims are forced to protect themselves by relocating, changing their identities, changing jobs, and obtaining protection orders;

Whereas, many stalkers use technology-such as cell phones, global positioning systems (GPS), cameras, and spyware-to monitor and track their vi'Ctiins;

Whereas, there is a need for greater public awareness about the nature, criminality, and potentia/lethality of stalking;

Whereas, criminal justice systems can enhance their responses to stalking by regular training of law enforcement officers and aggressive investigation and p1:osecution of the crime;

Whereas, laws and public policies must be continually adapted to keep pace with new tactics used by stalkers;

Whereas, communities may better combat stalking by adopting multidisciplinGiy responses by teams of local agencies and organizations and by providing increased and improved victim services; and

Whereas, The Austin/Travis County Family Violence Task Force is joining forces with victim service providers, criminal justice officials, and concerned citizens throughout Travis County and the United States to observe National Stalking Awareness Month.

NOW, THEREFORE, we, the Travis County Commissioners Court, do hereby proclaim January 2015 as

STALKING AWARENESS MONTH

in Travis County and applaud the efforts of the many victim service providers, police officers, prosecutors, national and community organizations, and private sector supporters for their efforts in promoting awareness about stalking.

RON DAVIS COMMISSIONER, PRECINCT 1

GERALD DAUGHERTY COMMISSIONER, PRECINCT 3

SARAH ECKHARDT COUNTY JUDGE

BRIGIDSHEA COMMISSfONER, PRECINCT 2

MARGARET J. GOMEZ COMMISSIONER, PRECINCT 4