For crime victims, seeking help often means making multiple trips: first to the police, then maybe the district attorney’s office, and then yet another journey to talk to a counselor.
San Joaquin County’s new Family Justice Center, which opened Wednesday at the former county administration building in downtown Stockton, puts all of those agencies under one roof — giving victims a “one-stop” destination for accessing help.
"If you come to court and you have to testify and you have a child, we can provide care service for you through Child Abuse Prevention Council," District Attorney Tori Verber-Salazar said. "If you’ve been a victim of domestic violence, or a juvenile who is maybe forced out of your home, if you’ve been battered in your home or witnessed a violent crime, come to us, we will help you."
She said the new center creates a streamlined process, eliminating the need for victims to travel to different locations and tell their story multiple times.
“It’s not just for victims of violent crime or people that have been harmed,” Verber-Salazar said. “This is for anybody that’s suffered any trauma. If you’ve been harmed by child abuse or domestic violence, human trafficking or any trauma, we’re here to help.”
Departments such as the Sheriff’s Department, Victim Witness, and Child Support Services will all be available.
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