What is a Family Justice Center?

Combining Services in One Location

A Family Justice Center (FJC), which is defined in federal law, 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. Each FJC, including the San Marcos – Hays County FJC, has basic partners: police officers, prosecutors, civil legal service providers, and community-based advocates. The core concept is to provide a place where victims can go to talk to an advocate, plan for their safety, interview with a police officer, meet with a prosecutor, receive medical assistance and information on shelter, and get help with basic services such as food and transportation. Services must be provided in one location to be effective. This safe place also ensures victims will not meet their batterer, as can happen in courtrooms, police departments, or other social service agencies. Family Justice Centers are for victims only.

In addition to these services for victims of domestic violence, the San Marcos – Hays County FJC will also serve victims of violent crime. These victims may need some of the same services that victims of domestic violence need, including access to victims services and a plan to rebuild their sense of safety.

The Family Justice Center approach is based on the San Diego Family Justice Center model which opened in 2002. What do San Diego, California and Hays County, Texas have in common? Both have seen alarming numbers of domestic violence calls across ethnic, geographic and economic spectrums. Several years ago, San Diego recorded 36 domestic violence murders in one year, while Hays County has had eight murders of women and children since 2002.

The Family Justice Center model has been identified as a best practice in the field of domestic violence intervention and prevention services by the United States Department of Justice. They reduce homicides; increase victim safety; increase autonomy and empowerment for victims; reduce fear and anxiety for victims and their children; increase efficiency and coordination among service providers; and reduce recantation and minimization by victims when wrapped in services and support.(See Casey Gwinn, Gael Strack, Hope for Hurting Families: Creating Family Justice Centers Across America (Volcano Press 2006)).

With the San Diego Center now handling more than 500 clients and 3,000 calls per month, the city has one of the lowest domestic homicide rates in the country. Other areas across the country, including San Antonio in Bexar County, built centers modeled on the success of the Family Justice Center in San Diego. These centers do not replace the local battered women's shelter. Unfortunately, there is enough domestic violence to go around.

Planning is underway to model the San Marcos – Hays County Family Justice Center on the ground-breaking work done in San Diego. The FJC will serve all of Hays County, including Kyle, Buda, San Marcos, Dripping Springs and Wimberley.