Manatee County Added to Project Protect

BRADENTON — Last week, Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody visited Manatee County to announce its inclusion in the expansion of Project Protect. The program provides doorbell cameras to survivors of domestic violence, human trafficking, and other crimes free of charge to help survivors feel more secure at home.

"It is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and we are expanding an important program to help survivors feel more secure at home, said Moody. "Starting today, our Project Protect is available in Manatee and Hardee counties, and survivors of domestic violence in these counties can now access free doorbell cameras to watch over their residences. Through this program, we can help survivors feel more secure and build a Stronger, Safer Florida."

The program had previously been in place in Hillsborough and Martin counties. The addition of Manatee and Hardee counties last week brought the count to four and Moody said there are plans to continue expanding the program.

"Our primary goal is to help victims of domestic violence and stop this cycle of abuse," said Manatee County Sheriff Rick Wells. "I applaud the Attorney General’s initiative to protect victims and make them feel safer in their own homes."

The video cameras can provide 24-hour audio and visual surveillance for a residence. Informational materials about Project Protect will be placed in the participating Clerk of Courts offices. Clerk of Courts staff will connect survivors with local victim advocates who will help each survivor through the process of receiving a free doorbell camera.

"I want to thank Attorney General Moody and her office for launching this invaluable program and choosing Manatee County to participate," said Manatee County Clerk of Circuit Court and Comptroller Angel Colonneso. "As Clerk, my office is sometimes the first line of defense for people affected by domestic violence, and we are grateful to be able to provide Project Protect as another layer of protection to help people affected by domestic violence feel safer at home."

Florida law enforcement agencies received nearly 104,000 reports of domestic violence in 2021 resulting in more than 63,000 arrests. According to the National Domestic Violence Hotline, an average of 24 people per minute become victims of physical violence, sexual assault or stalking by an intimate partner in the United States.

Countless cases go unreported. According to the Bureau of Justice, more than a third of female victims of murder and nonnegligent manslaughter in 2021 were killed by an intimate partner.