The Family Justice Center

The Family Justice Center oversees the coordination of services available to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and exploitation in Northwest Louisiana. The Family Justice Center provides services to victims in the parishes of Caddo, Bossier, Webster, Bienville, Claiborne, Jackson, Sabine, Red River and DeSoto.

The Northwest Louisiana Family Justice Center opened its doors on March 17, 2016, after years of planning by DA Marvin and his staff. The Center is endorsed by and receives referrals from law enforcement agencies and District Attorney’s Offices in all of the parishes it provides services. To request services or to gain more information contact:

Northwest Louisiana Family Justice Center
1513 Doctors Drive, Building 1
Bossier City, Louisiana  71111
www.nwlafamilyjusticecenter.org

Jeri Bowen, Director of Advocacy
318-584-7171 (Office)
318-505-7139 (Mobile)
jbowen@nwlafamilyjusticecenter.org

Background

In 2003, during District Attorney J. Schuyler Marvin’s first elected term as the District Attorney for the 26th Judicial District, the concept of the Family Justice Center for Northwest Louisiana grew out of the subcommittee of Faith-Based and Grass-Roots Advisory Committee.   District Attorney J. Schuyler Marvin established the Faith-based and Grass-Roots Advisory Committee to build coalitions, stretch resources, and find ways to effectively address the revitalization of communities in Northwest Louisiana.

The Visionaries

The inspiration for a Family Justice Center in Northwest Louisiana was two visionaries, Beth Chumley, Executive Director of the Council for the Advancement of Social Services and Education (CASSE), and the now deceased, Mr. Angelo A. Roppolo, a local businessman and entrepreneur.   These two individuals identified the need for Northwest Louisiana to establish a Family Justice Center to specifically serve the victims of domestic violence and their families.

CASSE Joins The Initiative

The Advisory Committees for the 26th Judicial District and CASSE collaborated to offer the first Faith-based and Grass-roots Conference which was addressed by a representative from the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Violence Against Women.  The Office of Violence Against Women awarded the first grant for Northwest Louisiana to assist faith-based and grass-roots community organizations to partner with local law enforcement for the purpose of assisting victims of domestic violence and their families.  CASSE and the District Attorney’s Office for the 26th Judicial District continued to recruit and train organizations and secure their commitment to offer services for the victims of domestic violence.

The Dream Comes Alive

In 2016, DA Marvin identified a funding source from the Federal Government’s Victims of Crime Act of 1984 (VOCA) and applied for these grant funds through Louisiana Commission of Law Enforcement. The grant funding allows the Family Justice Center to provide and coordinate services to Victims of Domestic Abuse in Northwest Louisiana.

New Program Coming to Louisiana to Help Domestic Violence Victims

The program’s purpose is to provide a safe and secure link between the victim and the court. In addition, the victim would be able to talk with courtroom personnel in a secure location without having to appear at a courthouse.

https://www.arklatexhomepage.com/news/local-news/new-program-coming-to-louisiana-to-help-domestic-violence-victims/1706742247

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