The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
‘All the services they need’
Plan for Family Justice Center underway in city
NEW HAVEN » For retired New Haven police Capt. Julie Johnson, a move to create a centralized service center for domestic violence victims in the region is a way to make communities safer.
Johnson is behind the push to create a family justice center. From 2008 to 2012, Johnson was the commander for the department’s special investigations unit, handling domestic violence and sexual assault cases (the unit is now called special victims).
Toward the end of her career, Johnson served as domestic violence liaison for the department. It’s an experience serving her well, now that she serves as project coordinator for The Umbrella for Domestic Violence Services BHcare, a service provider for domestic violence victims with offices in Ansonia and East Haven. Johnson is spearheading planning and organization for the New Haven center.
One stop for victims
Johnson said the family justice center concept started about 12 years ago in Southern California. The idea is straightforward: Gather the people and services made available for domestic violence victims under one roof. This includes police, prosecutors, victim advocates and other providers. This simplifies the process for victims, who Johnson said could be directed to as many as 30 different offices and providers to receive services.
“They put their heads together and decided to make a center that was onestop shopping,” Johnson said. “It’s an unbelievable concept. We’re just trying to see if we can make it happen in New Haven.”
Since many state and local agencies already collaborate to offer services to domestic violence victims, the center would create a central office for existing services. Johnson said an executive director could be needed, but the center wouldn’t necessarily mean hiring new staff.
“It’s an easy project to get behind because anybody who works with victims knows that they may need longterm services... to keep them safe,” Johnson said. “This is a community project. This project makes the community and people in the community safer.”
Not a small problem
New Haven averages about one family homicide per year, Johnson said. For instance, last year’s 13 homicides in New Haven included an apparent murder-suicide that police said involved two people in a “turbulent relationship.”
Further, according to a planning document for the family justice center, New Haven officers responded to 5,323 domestic violence calls for service in 2015, leading to 2,495 arrests. The document cites a Connecticut Do-
mestic Violence Fatality Review Committee’s 2015-2016 report, which reported the state averages 14 intimate partner homicides annually since 2000. There were 22 domestic homicides in New Haven between 2000 and 2015, according to the report.
A vocal proponent for a family justice center is New Haven Police Chief Anthony Campbell. The newlyminted chief noted opening such a center among his top priorities. He reiterated his commitment during a hearing for his appointment before the alders on May 30. One homicide this year is domestically related, Campbell said, while at least two other domestic situations this year could have ended up as domestic violence homicides.
“We’ve got our violent crime significantly down, but we’ve had an increase in our domestic violence,” Campbell said during the meeting with alders. “So I think we really need to start focusing on bringing a Family Justice Center to New Haven.”
Johnson said she was appreciative of Campbell helping to bring attention to the center, primarily because it also helped introduce the idea to the public.
The hope for Johnson and others supporting the center’s establishment is to lower the number of fatal domestic violence incidents in the region. Johnson said research suggests the centers have helped decrease domestic homicides. An example of their effect is found in Alameda County, California, where domestic violence homicides were reduced from 31 in 2001 to three in 2007.
The Family Justice Center Alliance is the national affiliation agency for family justice centers and helped create the planning document and mission statement for a center here. It was developed by the Alliance for Hope International, which helped create models for similar programs. Johnson said there are now more than 100 family justice centers across the country, including the first to open in Connecticut last year in Bridgeport.
Johnson has been on board with BHCare and the Umbrella Center since August to help develop the right model to run New Haven’s center.
“Fifty percent are cityrun, others are run by the (district attorney’s) office,” Johnson said. “We are not sure what direction we’re going.”
The Bridgeport facility, The Center for Family Justice, held its grand opening in April 2016 and is a private, not-for-profit agency. The center was completed with $1.2 million in renovations to existing offices. The center, which took about five years to develop, assists victims of domestic and sexual violence.
The Center for Family Justice President Debra A. Greenwood said in a statement her organization is excited to see New Haven’s program taking steps toward opening its own center.
“One of the many reasons we support the efforts in New Haven is that research shows this is the best way to provide victims all the services they need,” Greenwood said. “We are confident these efforts have the real potential to create better outcomes for victims of domestic violence in the New Haven area.”
Greenwood said in her statement that the center in Bridgeport provides services to more than 9,000 people in Bridgeport, Easton, Fairfield, Monroe, Stratford and Trumbull.
New Haven’s center would seek to serve a wider base. Its catchment area would include 19 towns throughout the Naugatuck Valley region and along the shoreline. It would also serve local colleges such as Yale University, Quinnipiac and Southern Connecticut State University.
The catchment area for local towns is based on the Umbrella’s current service area. The service area could change, however.
“That may not end up being the case,” Johnson said, though that doesn’t mean the center would limit its clients. “They’re never going to turn clients away.”
Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence CEO and President Karen Jarmoc said her program provides funding for providers such as BHCare. Jarmoc said about 40,000 people receive domestic violence services in the state every year.
“A family justice center is an enormous project and I am heartened to hear that BHCare is taking its time with its planning,” Jarmoc said. “The concept that survivors can receive all of that support that they need to stay safe and to obtain that in one location is impactful.”
While long-term planning for the project is important, Jarmoc cautioned that such a massive undertaking could face hurdles in the present day funding climate. Funding for programs addressing domestic violence will likely be reduced in the coming years, meaning a project such as a new family justice center would require significant outside investment.
“This is not feasible in the very near future because there’s uncertainty for funding,” Jarmoc said, adding that, “one of the most important approaches we must need to take is to understand how best to serve victims of domestic violence within existing resources.”
Johnson said she’s received support from state and federal lawmakers. In New Haven, the Board of Alders recently voted to forward a request by Alder Al Paolillo, D-17, for a public workshop exploring the opening of a center.
Paolillo has worked closely with Johnson throughout the planning process.
The center would provide a “safe space” for people to receive comprehensive services, Paolillo said. He commended Johnson for her work.
“I hope it gets running as soon as possible,” Paolillo said.
Project LongevityNew Haven project manager and former New Haven police detective Stacy R. Spell said he fully supports projects such as the family justice center. Such a project would “empower” the community, Spell said. He praised Johnson’s inclusion in the project and said establishing the center is reflective of the Police Department’s community policing.
“Anything that helps our children to be able to have a village mentality, to have people that support them and empower them to a better place, that’s great,” Spell said. “Having a program like the family justice center corroborate with the New Haven police department is a win-win.”
Paolillo said establishing the center is long overdue.
“This is much-needed addition to our community,” Paolillo said. “It’s invaluable to provide an opportunity for people in crisis.”