Why is a Family Justice Center approach needed in Hillsborough County?
Hillsborough County has the second highest domestic violence offense rate in Florida – 9,801 offenses, or 983.5 offenses per 100,000 residents — as reported in the 2004 Florida Department of Law Enforcement Uniform Crime Data. A victim of domestic violence must seek help from a number of agencies that are related, yet uncoordinated in their efforts. Victims must often tell the story of unspeakable trauma several times to many different agencies, and the victim may become frustrated, and even stopped by the hurdles of traveling to many locations and additional pain of revisiting the trauma many times. The FJC provides a team of coordinated services to deliver immediate relief to victims and their families from the pain of domestic violence.
