Family Justice Center Adds Domestic Violence Bureau

March 18, 2011
By Lisa Blackwell

When domestic violence victims walk through the door of the one place family justice center, it’s the only place they need to go.

That's because the Montgomery Police Department's Domestic Violence Bureau is now located on the second floor.

Steve Searcy, Executive Director, One Place Family Justice Center, says “If the victim wants to come through the whole family justice center without having contact with law enforcement that’s available also because they’re upstairs but if they want to pursue a criminal case then they’re ready and available to initiate and start that process. Investigators designed the office space with victims in mind. Each cubicle is partitioned for privacy.

The center houses four law enforcement professionals who work in conjunction with other onsite agencies.

Officials hope it will keep victims from giving up on getting justice.

Capt. Keith Barnett, Montgomery Police Department, says, “We hope we can keep that significant number of victims that drop off that don’t want to press charges anymore because they’ve gotten frustrated keep that significant percentage in the system, get that offender help hopefully we reduce the number all around.”

Lt. C.D. Williams, Montgomery Police Department, says “Not having to spend resources, time and effort to go to different locations, which in the past has been 5 or 6 different areas, I think it’s going to be tremendously beneficial to victims.”