Faulkner County Judge Allen Dodson read a proclamation at the Quorum Court meeting declaring October 2025 Domestic Violence Awareness Month and urged residents to support victims and local services. The court presented the proclamation to a representative of Stop DV and the organization presented Judge Dodson with the seventh annual Louise First Award.

In the proclamation, Judge Dodson said the county recognizes the prevalence and harms of domestic violence and the need for services such as medical and legal assistance, counseling and emergency housing. He proclaimed October 2025 as Domestic Violence Awareness Month “and urge[d] all citizens to actively support, and work towards the elimination of domestic violence in our cities and communities in Faulkner County.”

Stop DV representatives said weather prevented their usual event on the courthouse steps, so the organization requested the reading and delivery of the proclamation during the Quorum Court meeting to reach a broader livestream audience. A Stop DV board member presented the Louise First Award to Judge Dodson for his continuing efforts to combat domestic violence in Faulkner County.

Why it matters: Proclamations do not create legal obligations, but they publicly recognize social issues and point residents to local support services. Stop DV is a local victim-services organization; the court and the organization used the meeting as an occasion to raise awareness and publicly thank service providers.

What was said

Judge Allen Dodson: “I, Allen Dodson, County Judge of Faulkner County, Arkansas, do hereby proclaim October 2025 as Domestic Violence Awareness Month and urge all citizens to actively support, support and work towards the elimination of domestic violence in our cities and communities in Faulkner County.”

Stop DV representative (name not specified at meeting): The group noted it had to cancel its courthouse-steps event because of weather and asked for the proclamation to be read inside the meeting so more people could see it via livestream.

Louise First Award

Stop DV presented the seventh annual Louise First Award — named for a long-time local domestic-violence advocate — to Judge Dodson “for his continuing efforts to combat domestic violence in Faulkner County.” Dodson accepted the award and thanked the organization and its staff.

Next steps

The proclamation encourages residents to seek assistance from victim-services organizations, including Stop DV, and spotlights local efforts to increase public understanding of domestic violence.