Victims of Domestic Violence Find Help and Hope through Local Services

March 4, 2010 at 12:43 pm by Carla Alonso

Domestic violence does not respect social economic status. It can be found anywhere and everywhere, from the home of the wealthiest to the most religious family in the Tampa Bay area. Victims of domestic violence live in fear, thinking there are no other alternatives other than to remain with their abuser.

Each year there are between 6,000 and 7,000 police reports of domestic violence. According to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, there were 7,824 reported domestic violence offenses in 2008 within Hillsborough County.

Justice Center Dedicated in Honor of Advocate

March 01, 2010 8:56 PM
Keren Rivas / Times-News

GRAHAM – Throughout the years, Joy Ammons Ciriano fought for those affected by domestic violence, first as an advocate in court and later as the head of Family Abuse Services of Alamance County.

And though she died Friday after a five-year battle with cancer, her legacy will live on in the Alamance County Family Justice Center. On Monday night, the Alamance County commissioners unanimously approved a petition to dedicate the center in honor of Ciriano’s service and dedication to the victims of domestic violence. She was 45.

“We’ll all benefit for what Joy has done,” commissioner Ann Vaughn said. “She’ll be with us always.”

The center, which will operate on Martin Street in the former county social services building, is the first of its kind in the state and is designed to put social, legal and law enforcement services under one roof to deal more efficiently with child abuse and domestic violence cases. The center is scheduled to open May 1.

City Council Votes to House San Diego Family Justice Center
By Joe Britton,  City News Service
 
Tuesday, March 2, 2010

The City Council agreed Tuesday to lease one floor of the downtown Smart Corner office building to house the city-run San Diego Family Justice Center.

The center, now located at 707 Broadway, will relocate to 1122 Broadway, which is owned by the San Diego Housing Commission and serves as its headquarters.

The 10-year lease, which begins Oct. 1, calls for the Family Justice Center to pay $1.70 per square foot, or $453,206 annually, with payments increasing 6 percent every two years.

The Family Justice Center was established in 2002 as a one-stop-shop domestic violence service center where victims of domestic violence can get law enforcement and social services help.

Sunday, Feb. 21, 2010
Modesto, county leaders prime pleas for project funding

By Leslie Albrecht
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The early bird gets the money. That's what Stanislaus County and Modesto leaders are hoping as they make their annual pilgrimage to the nation's capital, where they'll ask lawmakers to steer federal dollars to local projects.

The group usually heads to Washington, D.C., in March. This year's trip starts Monday so funding requests can get on lawmakers' radar screens as early as possible, said Bill Bassitt, chief executive officer of Stanislaus County Economic Development and Workforce Alliance.

Proposed center would help violent crime and domestic violence victims
By Jim Schultz
Posted January 30, 2010

A proposed Family Justice Center aimed at helping violent crime and family violence victims may soon open its doors in downtown Redding.

District Attorney Jerry Benito believes the proposed center, which would include representatives from a number of different agencies, is long overdue. He said the project has been in the works for about three years.