As the stress of COVID-19 continues to rise across the state, it might also impact abuse and child endangerment cases.

Greene County Attorney Thomas Laehn says there have been an increased number of arrests by local law enforcement for domestic abuse assault cases in the County. He notes academic reports show a significant correlation between negative cultural conditions and domestic violence, and Laehn believes the uptick was anticipated by law enforcement. He points out that mental health cases have also seen an increase, which is mostly due to fear and paranoia and he thinks the pandemic has caused some of it.

ACCESS Sexual Assault Services Program Supervisor Marcy Webb is anticipating sexual and domestic abuse cases to go up while the quarantine continues. 

“During periods of quarantining, families are more isolated, getting less access to friends and support and maybe even feeling an additional stressors fiscally about food security or about job situation, the stress can go up. For those reasons, it’s not going to be surprising to me in the weeks to come if our numbers do go up.”

Webb adds, anyone who is a victim of sexual or domestic abuse can contact ACCESS for additional resources or help with their situation.