Family Justice Center opens in Northwest Louisiana
In late 2007, a formal request from the District Attorney’s Office for the 26th Judicial District (Bossier and Webster Parishes) along with community collaborators was made to the Louisiana Commission on Law Enforcement (LCLE) to establish a Family Justice Center that would provide centralized services to victims of Domestic Violence in Northwest Louisiana. Through the donation of office space from Willis Knighton Health Systems and continuing workshops, meetings, community partnerships and strategic planning workshops the ideas began to form the reality. With further assistance from the National Family Justice Center in San Diego, CA, the Ouachita Family Justice Center in Monroe, LA and the New Orleans Family Justice Center, the structure of the center became a promising future. Through the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA Grant) funding became finalized and available in early 2016 to open the doors.
The Northwest Louisiana Family Justice Center (NWLFJC) is a collaboration among public and private agencies in Caddo, Bossier/Webster, Bienville, Claiborne, DeSoto, Jackson, Sabine and Red River Parishes to provide support services and resources for victims of Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Exploitation. The Center wants to offer these services especially to those who continue to be victims without the necessary resources to put their lives back together. The 39th JDC District Attorney’s Office in Red River Parish will coordinate with NWLAFJC to provide the aforementioned services to citizens of Red River Parish.
“In partnering with Northwest Louisiana Family Justice Center, the Red River Parish District Attorney’s Office wants the parish to know we are serious about, not only prosecuting domestic violence, but working with victims and their families to put their lives back together. Within the last several months, we have instituted a “no drop” policy. This policy does not allow victims to request dismissal of domestic abuse battery charges once the abuser has been arrested. We are now working to further assist victims of Domestic abuse by providing them with access to services that can help them free themselves from an abusive situation. We at the District Attorney’s office want victims of domestic violence to be and feel safe within our communities.” –Julie Jones, District Attorney for Red River Parish
NWLFJC’s main goal is to make services more accessible to victims of these crimes by locating together the following services in our community through collaborative partnerships:
-Advocate/Social Workers
-Emergency Housing
-Counselors
-Medical Personnel
-Legal Assistance (such as protective orders)
-Law Enforcement
-Prosecutors
-Community Non-Profit Services
Individuals seeking assistance at the NWLFJC may choose to use any or all of these services (subject to availability). ALL SERVICES ARE FREE AND CONFIDENTAL.
Family Justice Center of Northwest Louisiana
1513 Doctors Dr, Building 1
Bossier City, LA 71111
Office: (318) 584-7171
Office Cell: (318) 584-7139
www.nwlafamilyjusticecenter.org
After Hours Hotline: (318) 226-5015