High Point Family Justice Center offers hope to domestic violence victims

When she was 3, Malaya later said, she saw her father hurt her mother.

Malaya and her family sought counseling and help at the Greensboro location and she and her sister twice attended Camp Hope, a program through the Family Justice Center designed to help children affected by domestic violence.

“My mom is courageous and she’s a survivor,” Malaya said. “We had people who helped us and we’re now living a life of happiness, love and hope.”

Since 2015, when the Family Justice Center opened in Greensboro, more than 20,000 victims have sought help.

But Executive Director Catherine Johnson said after gathering statistics about their clients, they knew they needed to open a second location.

While only 10 percent of victims have traveled from High Point to seek help, domestic violence has been an ongoing issue in the city.

Chief District Court Judge Tom Jarrell, who works in the High Point courthouse, shared Tuesday a 1992 domestic violence case that remains with him. He said victim Shelby Whitworth asked him to have the charges against her abuser dropped. Jarrell, then a prosecutor, agreed.

“I never really thought about it until I was doing a first appearance one day on the defendant who killed her,” Jarrell said. “I’ve carried that in my heart ever since that day and vowed to never dismiss a domestic violence case as a prosecutor.”

Jarrell said as a judge he recognizes how severe the domestic violence cycle has been in the county and learned from High Point Police Chief Kenneth Shultz that the police department answers 2,500 domestic violence calls per year, the most of any crime.

In 2008, the department reviewed the city’s homicides from the five previous years and found domestic violence led to 33 percent of the killings.

“There is one location that we should always feel safe, and that is our homes,” Shultz said.

Shultz said the department started focusing on reducing domestic violence and has seen success. But he also learned victims needed one place to go to seek help.

In 2017, the Guilford County Board of Commissioners agreed to open a second Family Justice Center in High Point and the High Point City Council agreed to budget $500,000 to renovate the former Clerk of Courts office at the courthouse.

“The Family Justice Center is a remarkable example of what can be accomplished when we work together on a shared goal,” said commissioners’ Chairman Alan Branson. “We’re broadening our efforts on creating a safer community.”

The grand opening Tuesday brought together commissioners, city officials, police, deputies, judges and other courthouse officials to celebrate.

Jarrell said it made him feel better that the “Shelby Whitworths” of the world had one place to seek the help they need.

The opening also brought together Family Justice Center volunteers, many of whom are also victims of domestic violence.

Kristen Barbieri said she understands why the center is so important.

She said in 2009 her husband slit her throat. At the time, the Family Justice Center did not exist and Barbieri was living in a shelter so her husband couldn’t find her.

“He was arrested but he could have gotten out on bail,” Barbieri said.

She knew that the more she was out in the community she exposed herself to potential violence from her then-husband. And she had to go from police department to courthouse to counselors across town.

“Having everything in one place is excellent and gives you peace of mind,” Barbieri said.

Inside the new Family Justice Center, at 505 E. Green Drive in High Point, victims are escorted to a special waiting room not accessible from the outside.

They then can talk with police officers and deputies who have offices in the building. They can use a special courtroom that allows them to video conference with a judge about their case. Children have playrooms to occupy them until their parent is done talking to advocates. And children who need to have forensic interviews can do so in the same building.

“It became clear early on that expanding these life-saving resources and building a stabilized partnership is needed and necessary in Greensboro and High Point,” Commissioner Kay Cashion said. “This Guilford County Family Justice Center in High Point, like our center in Greensboro, will be a place of hope and healing, in fact, it will be a life changer for many.”

Malaya agreed.

“Hope is possible because of the Family Justice Center partnerships, like what is happening here today,” she said. “It changes lives and families. It has changed mine.”