Salons asked to help victims of abuse

WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) - It is well known that domestic violence is a big problem, and the Williamson County Attorney's Office is looking for help.

In an unconventional move, officials are reaching out to hundreds of hair salons that could make a difference in a very intimate way.

Hope Alliance , formerly the Williamson County Crisis Center, said crisis phone calls in the last 18 months have increased a shocking 72 percent. Many abuse victims are looking for help for themselves and often their children, and that's not acceptable to Dee Hobbs of the Williamson County Attorney's Office.

"One thing we need to let folks know in our county is that domestic violence is real and that they're not alone," Hobbs said.

Hobbs said the reports of domestic violence are alarming, but sadly, he knows there are even more victims who aren't reporting violence so he had to get creative. How? By reaching out to hair salon owners, who are often trusted friends of the victims.

"We had an individual that had her ribs fractured in a domestic violence incident," he explained. "The next day she was allowed to go to a salon to make up for what had gone on the night before. In visiting with her friend, her stylist, someone she had known over the years ... that individual said, 'You really need to go to the doctor.' So that individual went to her doctor, the doctor recognized what had happened and it occurs to her to report that to law enforcement, and from that we got a protective order and able to prosecute the offender."

Olivia Castillo Lopez heard about this program and was happy to distribute some pamphlets. As owner of Olivia's Salon in Georgetown she has always been a big supporter of a safer community, she said.

"Anything for safety and education i have always supported in the last 50 years, so certainly this is one," Lopez said. "We should have some knowledge to help them report  or to gear them to someone that will help them."

The program is still just taking off. There are new awareness pamphlets to be printed and more salons are still signing up.

Those who own a hair salon and want to get involved are asked to contact the Williamson County Attorney's office at 512-943-1111 or send an email to Hobbs at dhobbs@wilco.org.