New center designed to streamline process for domestic violence victims

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Charlotte-Mecklenburg police are honoring the lives of 70 people in North Carolina killed because of domestic violence.

The department announced a new initiative Thursday that would help victims get the help they need.

The Family Justice Center would put the necessary agencies under one roof.

Karen Parker is with Safe Alliance, whose mission is to save domestic violence victims.

"We have had people tell us it's just too much to have to go through and they will choose to return home," Parker said.

Currently, most victims start with trying to get a protective order. For that, it's necessary to visit Victim Assistance and fill out reams of paperwork.

Most victims get a packet containing about 20 documents that have to be filled out, requiring one to two hours to complete. That is just the start of the process.

From there, victims have to visit the courthouse, file the papers with the clerk, go to domestic violence court and ask the magistrate -- who is located in the jail -- to get a protection order.

"They have been told a million different things,” said Michelle Brammer, with Victim Assistance. “Now we're (giving) them additional ... places to go file.”

If children need counseling, they have to go to yet another location, the Hal Marshal Center, for community support.

Many victims have no money for food or for utilities, so they have to go to Crisis Assistance.

A victim who is starting over and needs job training would have to go to Goodwill for assistance.

"When you see this situation, you see how complicated the system is,” Parker said. “You can understand why people don't leave."

Officials said the Family Justice Center should be completed in three years or less.

Cox Media Group