At a Sandoval County Commission meeting in Bernalillo on October 8, commissioners approved proclamations recognizing Domestic Violence Awareness Month and Breast Cancer Awareness Month after a presentation that placed domestic violence at the center of the county’s recent homicide spike. Shana Aldahl of the New Mexico Coalition Against Domestic Violence presented county homicide data from 2024 showing that five of the eight homicides recorded last year were linked to domestic violence, a figure that underscores New Mexico’s persistent ranking near the top nationally for domestic violence-related fatalities.

Local reporting by the Sandoval Signpost on October 9 confirmed the commission meeting and the statistics presented, situating them within broader coverage earlier this year. An analysis in the Rio Rancho Observer on January 31, 2025 flagged the 2024 homicide increase, linking part of the escalation to domestic violence. KOB 4 News reported on February 6, 2025 on rising domestic violence across Sandoval County and highlighted resource strains at Haven House, the county’s sole domestic violence shelter.

For neighbors across the county, the numbers translate into a public health and safety concern that reaches into living rooms, schools, workplaces and healthcare settings. Domestic violence-related homicides accounted for more than 60 percent of the county’s homicides in 2024, prompting officials and advocates to point to gaps in shelter capacity, underreporting in suburban and rural pockets, and strains on emergency services in fast-growing communities such as Rio Rancho. Advocates say improving access to crisis intervention, hotlines and safe housing can interrupt patterns of isolation that make victims more vulnerable.

Haven House has been repeatedly identified as a critical frontline resource, often operating at or near capacity in the wake of last year’s fatalities. That strain mirrors statewide trends and highlights the structural challenge of providing sustained services in counties experiencing rapid population growth without proportional increases in funding and infrastructure for victim services and mental health care.

The commission proclamations are symbolic but timely: they serve to raise awareness and encourage local institutions to amplify prevention messaging and supports during October. Observers note, however, that declarations must be paired with policy and budgetary decisions that expand shelter space, fund outreach and strengthen coordination among law enforcement, healthcare providers and social services to have measurable impact.

Questions remain about the public communications of county agencies. A referenced social post from the Sandoval County Sheriff’s Office could not be located in public channels, and advocates suggest following up with both the sheriff’s office and NMCADV for updated quarterly figures and outreach plans for 2025. Community accountability and transparency in reporting can help residents understand risk patterns and the availability of services.

The local emphasis on domestic violence this October frames the issue as a communitywide health and safety priority rather than a private matter. For Sandoval County, turning awareness into action will require targeted funding, better data sharing, and expanded shelter and counseling capacity to reach victims who may be isolated by geography, economic insecurity or stigma.