Stopping Domestic Violence: What Works?
NYC FAMILY JUSTICE
CENTER
28 to 30 May 2008, Waterford Institute of Technology
BROOKLYN, NY
th
th
NYC Family Justice Center
Brooklyn, New York
Stopping Domestic Violence: What
Works?
COSC – The National Office for the
Prevention of Domestic, Sexual, and
Gender-based Violence
Department of Justice, Equality and Law
Reform
May 2008
Kings County District Attorney’s Office
Mayor’s Office to Combat Domestic Violence
Stopping Domestic Violence: What Works?
28th to 30th May 2008, Waterford Institute of Technology
PRESENTATION AGENDA
 History
 Partners
 Clients
 Measuring Success
 Lessons Learned
Stopping Domestic Violence: What Works?
28th to 30th May 2008, Waterford Institute of Technology
It has been a long road…
Family Justice Center, Brooklyn N.Y.
“A Series of Firsts”
• 1990 District Attorney Charles J. Hynes takes office and begins
one of the first Domestic Violence Bureaus in a large urban
district attorney’s office.
• 1994 Mandatory Arrest Laws pass in New York State.
• 1995 Specialized Social Workers hired.
• 1996 Specialized Domestic Violence Court begins in Brooklyn –
First Felony Domestic Violence Court in USA
• 1997 Misdemeanor Courts open
• 2006 Integrated Domestic Violence courts open
Stopping Domestic Violence: What Works?
28th to 30th May 2008, Waterford Institute of Technology
KCDA GRANTS
Key: Community Collaborations
Funding Source: Office on Violence Against Women
• 1997 Project Save
• 1998 Central Brooklyn Task Force
– KCDA
– Arab American Family Support Center
– Asian Women’s Center
– Center Against Domestic Violence
– NYPD
• 1999 Barrier Free Justice
– Barrier Free Living (Shelter)
– South Brooklyn Legal Services
Stopping Domestic Violence: What Works?
28th to 30th May 2008, Waterford Institute of Technology
KCDA GRANTS (continued)
• 2001 Project Eden
• 2003 Project Shield
– YAI – National Institute for People with Disabilities
• 2003 Altria – Eden
• 2004 Youthful Offender Court
– Steps to End Family Violence
• 2007 Early Victim Engagement
– Safe Horizon
– Safe Homes
Stopping Domestic Violence: What Works?
28th to 30th May 2008, Waterford Institute of Technology
WHAT DID WE LEARN?
Criminal Justice
• “Episodically” – Driven
Domestic Violence
• “Whole life” – Driven
• Relates to specific
incidents
• Beyond one event
• Criminal Justice: Fast with
specific timelines to follow
• Prosecutors represent the
“State”
• Slow, resource
intensive
Stopping Domestic Violence: What Works?
28th to 30th May 2008, Waterford Institute of Technology
GOAL
Basic Premise:
• Isolation of Victim supports the offender.
• Longer the isolation, greater victim risk.
Goal:
• Reduce isolation by supporting the victim
with an array of services that is easily and
quickly accessed.
Stopping Domestic Violence: What Works?
28th to 30th May 2008, Waterford Institute of Technology
SHORT -TERM
• Collapse amount of time it takes to address
the “whole life” of the victim.
• The greater the access to meaningful and
varied support and help, the shorter the time
children will be exposed.
• If children’s exposure is abbreviated, the
cycle of violence will be curtailed.
Stopping Domestic Violence: What Works?
28th to 30th May 2008, Waterford Institute of Technology
LONG-TERM
• Intimate Partner Homicides will decrease
due to help available earlier – Immigrants
especially.
• More services and greater variety will be
accessed so individual “fit” is achieved by
client.
Stopping Domestic Violence: What Works?
28th to 30th May 2008, Waterford Institute of Technology
NYC FAMILY JUSTICE CENTER
BROOKLYN, NY
 Opened July 20, 2005
 Dedicated in memory of
Regina Drew.
Stopping Domestic Violence: What Works?
28th to 30th May 2008, Waterford Institute of Technology
NYC FAMILY JUSTICE CENTER
BROOKLYN, NY

NYC – Brooklyn - one of 15 sites nationally to receive U.S.
Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women start-up
grant.

The FJC is an entire floor (30,000 square feet) in the Kings County
District Attorney’s Office in downtown Brooklyn – located in a city
leased high-rise building that is close to transportation hubs and the
courts.

District Attorney Hynes made room within our agency, relocating
over 100 employees, so that community organizations could move in
with us.

Co-located, wrap around, holistic criminal justice and community
based services for victims of intimate partner violence and elder
abuse in Brooklyn.
Stopping Domestic Violence: What Works?
28th to 30th May 2008, Waterford Institute of Technology
PARTNERS
 FJC Administration (Mayor’s Office to Combat Domestic
Violence) operates Center; partner agencies deliver direct
services to clients.
 Kings County District Attorney’s Office (“KCDA”) is the co-lead
partner agency with the Mayor’s Office to Combat Domestic
Violence.
 14 community nonprofit agencies on-site with either full or parttime staffing.
 4 civil legal providers on-site with full or part time staffing.
 6 government agencies on-site with full or part-time staffing
(KCDA, New York City Police Dept., Probation, Human
Resources Administration (public assistance), DOITT and
Department for the Aging).
Stopping Domestic Violence: What Works?
28th to 30th May 2008, Waterford Institute of Technology
FJC ON-SITE PARTNERS
Community Side of the FJC:
(Approximately 70 staff, 20 active
volunteers/interns)
 Nonprofit victim advocates (ranging from case managers
to Master Level social workers) from 14 community
based nonprofit groups
 Civil legal attorneys from 4 on-site civil legal agencies
 Interfaith Spiritual Caregivers
 Volunteers/Interns – provide both administrative support
and law school student support
Stopping Domestic Violence: What Works?
28th to 30th May 2008, Waterford Institute of Technology
WHAT SERVICES ARE PROVIDED
ON-SITE AT THE FJC?
CRIMINAL:
 Prosecution of all intimate partner violence and
elder abuse arrest cases in Brooklyn
 Crisis Intervention
 Short and Long-term Counseling, Support
Groups
 Police Services
 Probation Information
Stopping Domestic Violence: What Works?
28th to 30th May 2008, Waterford Institute of Technology
On-Site Services Provided at FJC
(continued)
CIVIL:
 CIVIL Legal Services – family law and
immigration
 Drafting of temporary order of protection
petitions
 Elder Abuse Services – Elder OP project
Stopping Domestic Violence: What Works?
28th to 30th May 2008, Waterford Institute of Technology
On-Site Services Provided at FJC
(continued)
ECONOMIC:
 Housing/shelter advocacy
 Self-Sufficiency Services - English Classes, job
placement and readiness
 Public Assistance information
 Practical Assistance (food pantry, clothing closet,
baby supplies)
Stopping Domestic Violence: What Works?
28th to 30th May 2008, Waterford Institute of Technology
On-Site Services Provided at FJC
(continued)
MENTAL HEALTH:
 Children’s Services – Margaret’s Place –
supervised play, counseling
 Voluntary Interfaith Spiritual care
Stopping Domestic Violence: What Works?
28th to 30th May 2008, Waterford Institute of Technology
Criminal Justice / Government Side of the FJC:
(Approximately 80 staff)
 Kings County District Attorney’s Office -The entire Domestic
Violence Bureau including misdemeanor and felony Assistant
District Attorneys, government victim advocates, detective
investigators and support staff
 1 New York City Department of Probation Officer
 2 New York City Police Department Domestic Violence Prevention
Officers
 Human Resources Administration (Public Assistance Money)
 Department for the Aging
Stopping Domestic Violence: What Works?
28th to 30th May 2008, Waterford Institute of Technology
FJC CLIENT VOLUME
 Brooklyn has a population of over 2.5 million - most people of the 5
boroughs in NYC
 Close to 37% of clients are foreign-born
 Brooklyn has the highest number of reported domestic violence
crimes citywide
 The Kings County District Attorney’s Office (Brooklyn) prosecutes all
domestic violence misdemeanor and felony crimes in Brooklynaverage of 8,000 domestic violence cases per year
Stopping Domestic Violence: What Works?
28th to 30th May 2008, Waterford Institute of Technology
CLIENTS
How Do Clients
Get There?
ARRESTS
Currently, approximately
65% of clients at the
FJC are referred by
The DA’s Office.
REPEAT / FOLLOW-UP
VISITS
Agencies on-site make
appointments for
follow-up.
REFERRALS
• Police
• Family Court
• Community Organizations
• Media
Stopping Domestic Violence: What Works?
28th to 30th May 2008, Waterford Institute of Technology
FJC CLIENT SUCCESS STORY
• Abuser was arrested for assault on victim. Abuser
on Parole at time of arrest.
• Victim came to FJC to meet with a prosecutor.
• Criminal Justice Assessment done:
– What is available evidence?
• Photos
• 911 emergency call
• Domestic Incident Report
– What are provable charges?
– What are likely outcomes?
– Can Parole violate offender?
Stopping Domestic Violence: What Works?
28th to 30th May 2008, Waterford Institute of Technology
WHAT ABOUT CIVIL, ECONOMIC,
IMMIGRATION, MENTAL HEALTH JUSTICE?
CIVIL JUSTICE
• Case Manager was assigned from Safe
Horizon.
• If the client had children with the batterer,
she would be referred to lawyers who could
help with child custody, support, visitation.
Stopping Domestic Violence: What Works?
28th to 30th May 2008, Waterford Institute of Technology
ECONOMIC JUSTICE
• Case manager helped to secure affordable housing.
• “Verizon Hopeline” telephone obtained for client to allow her
the ability to contact employers.
• Referral made to self-sufficiency program.
• Client connected to Workforce One (city job placement
initiative).
• Metropolitan Council helped her to update resume.
• Information on obtaining driver’s license provided to enhance
job prospects.
Stopping Domestic Violence: What Works?
28th to 30th May 2008, Waterford Institute of Technology
MENTAL HEALTH JUSTICE
• Children’s Center on site.
• Counseling provided through
Sanctuary for Families.
Stopping Domestic Violence: What Works?
28th to 30th May 2008, Waterford Institute of Technology
CRIMINAL JUSTICE
• Abuser was convicted and sentenced to
90 days in jail.
• Parole violation hearing pending for
greater sentence.
• Relocation to occur before defendant’s
release.
Stopping Domestic Violence: What Works?
28th to 30th May 2008, Waterford Institute of Technology
MEASURING SUCCESS
• 10,682 clients have visited the FJC on at least one
occasion.
• 2,824 children have used the FJC Children’s Room.
• 28,372 Client visits.
• 900-1000 client visits per month.
300 – 400 new clients.
• KCDA cases increased by 30%.
Stopping Domestic Violence: What Works?
28th to 30th May 2008, Waterford Institute of Technology
• An average of 6 services accessed per client.
• Volume of witnesses coming to us has increased by over
46%.
• Family-related Homicides decreased in Brooklyn from
2002-2006 by 30%.
• Special immigrant visa certifications have quadrupled.
• Children receiving on-site counseling one-on-one and
groups.
• Certain Partner agencies, i.e., Tamkeen (Middle Eastern
victims) have increased clients to FJC.
Stopping Domestic Violence: What Works?
28th to 30th May 2008, Waterford Institute of Technology
LESSONS LEARNED
• FJC is a Laboratory for new collaborations,
higher level of expertise among all.
• Challenges: Confidentiality between Community
partners and Government partners.
• Communication is key.
• Cross - Training – Constantly is key.
• Consistent Outreach to Community necessary.
Stopping Domestic Violence: What Works?
28th to 30th May 2008, Waterford Institute of Technology
OTHER FAMILY JUSTICE CENTERS
• First: San Diego, California
• U.S.: About 26 all around the United States
INTERNATIONAL:
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Canada
Mexico
England (Croydon)
Jordan
Bahrain and others
Stopping Domestic Violence: What Works?
28th to 30th May 2008, Waterford Institute of Technology
Stopping Domestic Violence: What Works?
28th to 30th May 2008, Waterford Institute of Technology
CONTACT INFORMATION
Wanda Lucibello
Chief, Special Victims Division
Kings County District Attorney’s Office
350 Jay Street, 15th Floor
Brooklyn, New York 11201
Email: lucibell@brooklynda.org
Website:
www.brooklynda.org
www.nyc.gov/domesticviolence
Click on Family Justice Center