Police Department

Domestic Violence Family Justice Center Opens in Spokane

Best Practices Model Facility will house Spokane Regional Domestic Violence Team

Monique Cotton, Director of Communication and Public Information, 509.363.8285

Thursday, February 12, 2015 at 3:59 p.m.

The Spokane Regional Domestic Violence Team (SRDVT), comprised of law enforcement, advocates and prosecutors, is now working together in one location, called the Family Justice Center.

The Family Justice Center, identified as a national best practices approach to Domestic Violence intervention and prevention, is an important step forward in the Spokane community’s commitment to hold Domestic Violence offenders accountable, protect the safety of Domestic Violence victims, and reduce incidents of Domestic Violence in Spokane.

YWCA CEO Regina Malveaux, Spokane Mayor David Condon, Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich, Chief Frank Straub, Spokane County Prosecutor Larry Haskell, City Attorney Nancy Isserlis, Spokane City Council members, Spokane County Commissioners, representatives from Senator Patty Murray’s office, and members of the SRDVT were on hand at the grand opening ceremony to explain the importance of the opening of the Family Justice Center in Spokane.

The Family Justice Center is the co-location of a multi-disciplinary team of professionals who work together, under one roof, to provide coordinated services to victims of family violence.  Key partners include:

• Police Officers/Sheriff’s Deputies
• City & County Prosecutors
• YWCA Legal Advocates

The core concept of the Family Justice Center model is to provide ONE victim friendly location where victims can go to talk to an advocate, plan for their safety, interview with a police officer, meet with a prosecutor, receive information on shelter, counseling and job readiness services AND have access to free child care while they are on-site accessing these services. The legal advocates ensure that victims have a team of professionals to assist them in safely breaking the cycle of violence. The goal is to help victims move from what is often times the most traumatic moment in their lives to hope, healing, safety and stability.

The SRDVT was previously housed in the Regional County Health Building with a limited number of law enforcement personnel and without representation from the City Prosecutor’s Office. Additionally, that space did not provide victim services now offered in one location at the Family Justice Center (victim services include: legal advocacy, food, shelter and child care information and resources, counseling service, etc.)

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