By: Jennifer Saylor
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – It’s been three years in the making, but on Monday the Family Justice Center, dedicated to domestic violence victims, opened in downtown Asheville.
News 13’s Kimberly King was live at the new facility on Woodfin Street, which will house multiple agencies from Helpmate, detectives and even a registered nurse.
County leaders and those working to help domestic violence victims all played a role in making this happen.
This will now be a one-stop center where accusers can report an incident or crime, and speak to people who can speed up the process legally. The are also counseling resources for people in an abusive relationship.
One survivor shared her experience. “To have not only everything in one place, but to have it be a place that’s compassionate, and empathetic, and sympathetic, able to respond in a way that makes survivors feel they’re people, still,” said Elisa Jacobs-Thompson.
“This was important to law enforcement, this was important to the county,” said Count Commissioner Holly Jones, to “get people on the same page, locked arms and going together.”
The center has a special room for counseling children, as well as exam rooms. There will be a full-time nurse.
Pisgah Legal also will have staff who can help with all kinds of services, including finding housing.
Buncombe sheriffs and APD will have detectives specializing in domestic violence cases, and there will also be an assistant district attorney working in the building.
The center is modeled after a successful justice center in San Diego.
The goal is to make things easier and more efficient for victims who now will know there is a center and people they can go to for help.
Original article: Family Justice Center opens in Asheville to serve victims of domestic violence