Rochester-area legislators, advocates and law enforcement officials convened a roundtable Tuesday, Oct. 13, to confront a sobering statistic: Domestic violence arrests are up 38% across Monroe County so far this year.
Meaghan de Chateauvieux, the president of the Willow Center, said the domestic violence agency now fields around 13,000 crisis calls each year. That is equivalent to one call per seat inside the Red Wings baseball stadium. And de Chateauvieux said the number of calls for help has doubled since 2020.
"We also know, beyond the stadium ― beyond those 13,000 seats and those 13,000 calls ― there are still people in our community who do not feel safe reaching out," she said.
Officials have worked in recent years to streamline services for
survivors of domestic violence. When someone calls the Willow Center hotline, they may expect immediate support filing orders of protection, finding safe housing or securing food for dinner. Advocates will then help the family navigate the court process and connect them to long-term counseling.
The support can also unfold in reverse: Police and hospital systems now use domestic violence risk assessments to make referrals to agencies like Willow, de Chateauvieux said.
"There are so many spaces in our community that are front doors to accessing the system that's here to support survivors," she said.
Domestic violence emerges as top priority in Monroe County
At a news conference following the roundtable Tuesday, officials said the increase in reported domestic violence might actually be a reflection of stronger coordination between agencies that makes it easier for families to access help. Still, domestic violence has emerged as an urgent priority and concern for city, county and state officials.
In 2025, the rate of domestic violence reports in Rochester was two-and-a-half times the statewide average. Reports in Monroe County were just below double the rate statewide.
Monroe County District Attorney Brian Green said the increase eclipses any other sector of crime handled by prosecutors, including drug arrests and motor vehicle crimes.
Assemblymember Jen Lunsford, D-Perinton, said the roundtable was necessary to identify gaps in funding, resources and policies around domestic violence.
"We need to be addressing it from the bottom to the top," Lunsford said. "Too often we look to our courts and we look to law enforcement as the sole solution. ... Domestic violence is insidious. It leaks into the cracks and it is very hard to root it out because of the secrecy and the shame and the fear around, what happens if my situation changes?"
If you need support with domestic violence, advocates are available 24/7 at Willow Domestic Violence Center's hotline at 585-222-7233 or by emailing hotline@WillowCenterNY.org.
― Kayla Canne covers community safety for the Democrat and Chronicle with a focus on immigration, police accountability, government surveillance and how people are impacted by violence. Follow her on Instagram @bykaylacanne. Get in touch at kcanne@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Domestic violence up 38% in Monroe County. Advocates seek answers
