The NLCRPD reminds community members there are resources in place to deal with the demands of the holidays to mitigate the potential for domestic violence. Use these resources as tools to avoid a domestic violence crisis and call for NLCRPD police assistance when needed.

Historically the NLCRPD patrols are faced with service demands for unresolved custody disputes over children and resultant issues during the holidays. The NLCRPD recommends that there be a current and valid custody agreement in place to provide some clarity on an otherwise murky situation. Why people engage in domestic, or family related abuse of others is a multifaceted question that never provides an acceptable answer.

While the holiday season is a time of family gatherings, sometimes expectations of happy family time is interrupted by violence. Simply put if the family cannot gather without tension and dispute throughout the year, reasonable expectation is that this will likely not only occur but surface during holiday as well – sometimes even more acutely.

The holiday season can place victims of domestic abuse in a more heightened vulnerable state than usual. Domestic violence during the holidays increases due to the added stress that arises from finances, holiday shopping and planning holiday events. Frequently abusers are more likely to be home alone with their victims during this season than at any other time during the year. During festivities, abusers may consume drugs and/or alcohol which can lead to behavior resulting in violence. Many times, responding officers are confronted by one or more participants under the influence, making it even more difficult for responding patrols to resolve the situation.