CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- An unintended consequence of the stay-at-home effort to prevent the spread of the coronavirus is more reported incidents of domestic violence.On the Park Forest Police Department's Facebook page is the message: "Safer At Home during the pandemic does not always mean safer at home."
Mannino said law enforcement across the country is reporting an increase in domestic violence calls especially since states started "shutting down" and ordering people to shelter-at-home.The chief said people have added stress in their lives now.
"I certainly think that having people confined, not having the available outlets, being able to go to work or leave to go shopping, or however else somebody might have escaped in the past, with that not being available to them, I certainly think that could be a contributing factor," he said.Chief Mannino said if someone is experiencing violence or fears being the victim of violence, he or she should call 911.Mannino said that if someone needs non-emergency domestic abuse-related assistance in the south suburbs, they can contact the Crisis Center for South Suburbia at 708-429-SAFE(7233). People in other areas can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE(7233).
