RIVERSIDE – Targeting people with outstanding arrest warrants for domestic violence-related crimes, 48 people across Riverside County were arrested this week during part of a national operation supported by the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office.

Several Riverside County law enforcement agencies took part in the 14th annual National Family Violence Apprehension Detail. The operation was founded by the Clackamas County (Oregon) Sheriff’s Office Domestic Violence Enhanced Response Team. In Riverside County, law enforcement officers attempted to serve nearly 300 arrest warrants resulting in the 48 arrests.

Agencies reporting these numbers are the Beaumont, Desert Hot Springs, and Murrieta Police Departments as well as the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department from its stations in Cabazon, Jurupa Valley, Moreno Valley, Palm Desert, and Perris. Last year across the country, 503 agencies in 36 states participated in the operation resulting in 1,761 arrests. The operation is conducted in late October which, since 1987, has been observed nationally as Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

Domestic Violence Awareness Month was developed from the Day of Unity held in October 1981 and conceived by the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (www.ncadv.org/). Help for victims of domestic violence and important resources about domestic violence are available on the local, state, and national levels. Here are just a few: Riverside County Family Justice Centers are located in Riverside, Indio, and Murrieta. Information and locations can be found at www.rivcofjc.org Palm Desert-based Shelter From The Storm: www.shelterfromthestorm.com/ with a 24-hour toll-free hotline available at (800) 775-6055 Riverside-based Alternatives to Domestic Violence: www.alternativestodv.org with a toll-free hotline of (800) 339- SAFE Temecula-based Safe Alternatives For Everyone: www.safefamiliesca.org/ with a helpline at (951) 587-3900 The California Victim Compensation Program: www.vcgcb.ca.gov/victims/issues/domesticviolence/ The National Domestic Violence Hotline: www.thehotline.org/is-this-abuse/