Although much of the state is now working from home, the important work at the Family Justice Center continues to focus on offering services so community members can stay safe. Harford County Sheriff Jeffrey R. Gahler, State’s Attorney for Harford County Albert J. Peisinger, Jr. and Luisa Caiazzo, CEO, of The Sexual Assault/Spouse Abuse Resource Center, Inc. (SARC), solidified a comprehensive and multifaceted response to sexual violence and intimate partner abuse in Harford County by signing a Memorandum of Understanding for the operation of the Family Justice Center, located at 23 North Main Street in downtown Bel Air.
The Family Justice Center was opened in 2006 following a long-recognized importance of cooperation among agencies in confronting the problem of intimate partner and sexual violence in Harford County. In order to further enhance communication and coordination of efforts, the Family Justice Center brought police officers, prosecutors and victim advocates together in one single location. Survivors of domestic and sexual violence can access a wide range of supportive resources, such as victim advocacy, legal assistance, crisis support, safety planning, support from law enforcement and access to shelter and other community resources. Understanding that a collaborative approach is the most effective method to combat this type of crime and support survivors of violence, this Memorandum of Understanding formalizes each organization’s continued commitment to work together to find solutions to keep Harford County citizens safe and provide access to critical lifesaving services.
Harford County is distinguished as one of only 40 or so centers of this type in the United States and other countries. “The family justice center model is an effective and seamless delivery system of critical services,” said Sheriff Jeffrey R. Gahler, “the assistance that is provided from each of the involved agencies supports victims and ultimately saves lives.”
Although all agencies have had strong working relationships and have collaborated at the Family Justice Center for over a decade, a review of services and systems was conducted and the partners renewed their commitment to hold perpetrators accountable and provide critical support to victims of intimate partner violence. “Intimate partner violence and the tragedy caused to families is an outrage,” said State’s Attorney Albert J. Peisinger, Jr, “working with our partners, we have all increased the resources at the Family Justice Center, strengthening the ability to provide critical services and justice for vulnerable victims.”
1 in 4 women and 1 in 9 men experience severe intimate partner physical violence, intimate partner contact sexual violence, and/or intimate partner stalking. In addition to strong investigative and prosecutorial elements, the Family Justice Center includes a robust advocacy component. SARC provides legal advocates in addition to crisis consultants who work to coordinate support to high lethality domestic violence cases. SARC has been providing free services to victims of domestic violence, sexual violence, and stalking in Harford County since 1978. Services include a 24 Hour-Helpline (410-836-8430), counseling for adults and children, legal advocacy and representation, a confidentially located safe house and hospital accompaniment.
“We are committed to working together to prevent incidents of intimate partner violence and helping victims access resources to heal, said Luisa Caiazzo, CEO of SARC, “the center is a single point of contact for victims.”