High Point dedicated its first Victim’s Justice Center on Wednesday, April 2. The Center was opened specifically to streamline services for domestic violence victims. It is a one-stop site for victims, with police and a Legal Aid attorney on hand to guide them through the process of seeking a protective order and securing other services.
Major Ken Schultz
“We think that this is going to be an opportunity to break that cycle of violence,” said High Point police Major Ken Schultz.
The police department is partnering with other agencies to operate the center, including Legal Aid of North Carolina and Family Services of the Piedmont. The Center is located within the High Point Center for Children & Families, an initiative of the University of North Carolina at Greensboro that offers intervention programs for children and parents, coached parent-child Department of Social Services visitation, and parent education.
The Victim’s Justice Center is partially an outgrowth of the police department and High Point Community Against Violence’s Offender Focused Domestic Violence Initiative that began in April 2012. This Initiative works to prevent potential and known abusers from victimizing their intimate partner. In the two years since its inception, the Initiative has led to fewer assaults and fewer domestic disturbance calls. Recidivism rates among offenders are about nine (9) percent in High Point, compared to the national average of about 30 percent. High Point has also seen a reduction in the number of domestic homicides involving intimate partners. There were 17 killings in the city between 2004 and 2008. Since then, there has one been one.
Ms. Millis, Lt. Tim Ellenberger
The Center is being funded the first year through grants from the Millis family. In the future, additional grants will be sought and the Center may organize as a nonprofit, to enhance future fundraising efforts.
The Victim’s Justice Center and the High Point Center for Children & Families are located in the Southside Recreation Center at 401 Taylor Avenue in High Point.