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NY Mayor's Office To Combat Domestic Violence
Family Justice Center
On July 20, 2005, the Mayor’s Office to Combat Domestic Violence (OCDV) and the Kings County District Attorney’s Office opened the City’s first Family Justice Center in downtown Brooklyn. The Center allows victims to access comprehensive services more easily by putting dedicated domestic violence prosecutors and all essential service providers under one roof. With one appointment, victims are able to meet with a prosecutor, petition for an order of
protection, receive legal advice on housing and custody issues, speak with a trained counselor, and apply for housing and financial assistance – all while their children play safely in the next room.
Domestic Violence Response Teams Program (DVRT)
The DVRT Program coordinates the delivery of domestic violence services to high-risk households in precincts with the highest rates of domestic violence. Through DVRT, the City is able to analyze the flow of service delivery. Based upon in-depth discussion of cases, DVRT develops recommendations to enhance the provision of services citywide. Several major policy changes which improved service delivery to domestic violence victims have resulted from DVRT. Initially implemented in Brooklyn and the Bronx, groundwork for an expansion to Queens began in 2005.
Language Line Program
The Language Line Program was originally piloted in some of the City’s most ethnically diverse communities including Flushing, Whitestone, College Point, North Corona, Jackson Heights and East Elmhurst in Queens. This program equips police officers with cellular and dual handset telephones that have direct, instant access to interpreters in over 150 different languages in order to better assist immigrant victims of domestic violence. Victims who do not speak English can
now tell their stories to the police and get the help they need. Funded by the Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women, the Language Line Program encourages victims to seek help from the police.
In July 2005, the Program was expanded, and now all NYC police precincts have direct, instant access to language interpreters 24 hours a day to assist with the investigation of any crime. Since the pilot launched in March 2004, Language Line has been used over 2,300 times in 37 different languages. Language no longer needs to be a barrier for crime victims who are seeking help.
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