Frequently Asked Questions
I am in an abusive relationship right now or know someone who is. What do I do?
Why is there a need for a FJC in Hays County, Texas?
Why do we have to go into San Marcos for these services?
How will victims and children benefit from a Center?
What are the services and activities that can be provided at a Center?
Is this the same thing as the Hays County Justice Center government building?
How do FJCs collaborate with existing battered women's shelters?
How do you plan on raising funds to build this in such difficult economic times?
I am in an abusive relationship right now or know someone who is. What do I do?
If something about your relationship scares you, or you are concerned for a peer, friend or family member, please contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1.800.799.SAFE (7233) or the TTY line for the deaf 1.800.787.3224. If you are in immediate danger, call 911. If internet communication is the safest option for you, please visit NDVH's website.
To find out more about domestic violence in Texas, visit the Texas Council on Family Violence . For non-emergency resources in Hays County, please visit our Contact Us page.
Why is there a need for a FJC in Hays County, Texas?
The Texas Council on Family Violence estimates that one-third of Texans face severe abuse at some point in their life. 74% of Texans have reported that they, or a friend of family member, have been abused by someone close to them. This means that, regardless of race, socio-economic class, gender or age, someone you know is a victim. They go to church with you, shop with you, join your family in day-to-day activities, and are in your workplace. In Hays County, over 1,000 domestic violence calls are made to law enforcement every year. Since it is estimated only 25% of cases are actually reported, actual violence rates are well above 1,000.
There are many reasons why victims often fail to report domestic violence, including love, fear, religious beliefs, threats to children, lack of money or resources, or simply not knowing that help is available.
Most criminal and civil justice systems make it difficult for victims to seek help and unintentionally wear them down. Victims are often required to travel from location to location to seek services that are scattered through a community or region. They have to tell their story over and over again to officials representing agencies, such as law enforcement, courts, legal aid, medical, transportation, housing, social services, mental health, rehabilitation, financial assistance, and many more. The criminal justice system unintentionally makes it easy for frightened victims to become frustrated and ultimately stop seeking help.
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Why do we have to go into San Marcos for these services?
While victims have many needs that can be addressed in the Hays County communities outside San Marcos, there are many services and needs that must be addressed in San Marcos – including access to services provided by the District Attorney, courts, and some law enforcement. In addition, as the county seat, there are many resources available to Hays County citizens but which must be obtained in San Marcos. In large part, this is due to the limited resources available to an already overtaxed social service system. While we would like to have a FJC in each community in Hays County, that is not financially feasible at this time. The good news for victims is that, by co-locating these agencies, we make it much easier to obtain the services for effectual change once a victim gets here. In addition, we have plans to provide county-wide transportation to the FJC for victims seeking services. Some residents of the county may feel closer to Austin/Travis County, but, due to residency issues surrounding jurisdictions, Hays County, and its seat, San Marcos, is the appropriate place to obtain services as a victim of domestic violence and violent crime.
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How will victims and children benefit from a Center?
The Center can provide a combination of services and interventions from one location to help victims and offenders break the cycle of violence and develop healthy relationships. A collaborative effort provides more support to victims and children involved in family violence through improved case management and a more fluid exchange of information and resources. Bridging existing gaps increases a victim's access to services and resources and makes the entire process of reporting a domestic violence incident much less overwhelming for the victims and children involved.
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What are the services and activities that can be provided at a Center?
The architectural plans for the San Marcos – Hays County Family Justice Center have been drawn and offer office space for comprehensive medical and law enforcement services, victims services for victims and children, advocacy, and safety planning and on-site professionals providing civil legal services and ministerial counseling. In addition, the proximity to other agencies on the Village Campus will provide access to emergency utility assistance, emergency food assistance, job training and placement, and mentoring opportunities for the children who have witnessed abuse and violent crime.
Our FJC has already entered into Memorandums of Understanding with many offsite partners so the wrap-around care received by victims and their families will be diverse enough to give victims the opportunities they need to break cycles of violence and become healthy, productive members of society.
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Is this the same thing as the Hays County Justice Center government building?
No, the Hays County Justice Center is a project of the local Hays County government and funded by public bond money. Though the FJC has some county offices involved, it is an effort funded by private donations, foundations and individuals like you, through the support of the Friends of the Family Justice Center, a 501(c)3 organization.
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How do FJCs collaborate with existing battered women’s shelters?
Many FJCs have been built across the country and in each and every one of those communities there has also been a women’s shelter. Unfortunately, there is enough violence to go around. The objective of a FJC is to surround a victim of violence with services by providing as many services as possible at one location without duplicating services. The San Marcos – Hays County FJC has many valued off-site partners committed to this project, including the local women’s shelter. The Hays-Caldwell Women’s Center is one of those partners in providing shelter services, child forensic interviews, and long-term counseling, just to name a few. In addition, the FJC will provide the clients of the Women’s Center with a safe place to go to talk to law enforcement, obtain protective orders and access many of the wrap-around services a victim needs.
FJCs never replace local women’s shelters and many times don’t even see the same clients. FJCs are about collaboration of efforts, not duplication of effort.
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How do you plan on raising funds to build this in such difficult economic times?
For FJCs to work, resources MUST be located in one place. Interestingly, many FJCs have been built across the country, however, none in an area as fast growing as Hays County. That means that, while other FJCs can make use of re-purposed buildings and cheap purchase prices, we do not have that luxury in Hays County where real estate is at a premium even in challenging economic times. With that said, there have been eight homicides in Hays County since 2002 and countless other assaults that caused severe bodily injury. With those statistics in mind, and the frightening fact that someone YOU know is in an abusive relationship now, can we afford not to act?
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