EASTON, Pa. — The Northampton County District Attorney’s Office is inviting the public to a free panel Tuesday evening at the county courthouse on recognizing domestic violence and finding help.
The office said the panel comes as the county has seen several recent homicide cases connected to domestic violence, though its announcement Friday did not name them.
“Too often, domestic violence happens behind closed doors and goes unreported until it escalates into tragedy,” District Attorney Stephen G. Baratta said in the announcement.
Panelists are expected to include representatives of the district attorney’s office, Turning Point of Lehigh Valley and St. Luke’s University Health Network, the office said. The program is also expected to include a survivor’s perspective on seeking help. The announcement did not name the panelists or the survivor.
Topics will include warning signs of abuse, holding offenders accountable, how health care workers spot and respond to abuse, the dangers of strangulation and the need for prompt medical care, and resources for victims and families, according to the office.
The panel runs from 5 to 7 p.m. in the jury lounge on the first floor of the Northampton County Courthouse. The office said it hopes service providers, educators, health care workers, students and local groups will attend. The announcement did not say whether registration is needed. For information, call the office’s Victim Services Unit at 610-829-6655.
The office’s Victim Services Unit is presenting the panel for the second year. This year’s panel is titled “Opening Doors: Shining the Light on Safety, Accountability and Healing,” according to the event flyer, which bills it as part of Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
Help is available now. Turning Point of Lehigh Valley, which serves Lehigh and Northampton counties, runs a 24-hour helpline at 610-437-3369, toll-free at 877-438-4957, with a TTY line at 610-419-4594. The organization says it served more than 3,772 Lehigh Valley residents in its 2024-25 fiscal year through services that include an emergency safe house, counseling, legal advocacy and medical advocacy.