Center Against Family Violence
The
Center Against Family Violence -- where criminal justice joins forces with
helping professions -- where police and social workers, prosecuting
attorneys and on-site physicians work together to reduce the trauma of
physical and sexual abuse -- where victimization is transformed into
empowerment.
As the lead agency for the Center Against Family
Violence, the Mesa Police Department has designed a unique,
community-oriented, collaborative approach to investigating and
intervening in domestic violence, adult and child
sexual/physical abuse cases. Working with Child Protective
Services, the officers of the Mesa Police Department are
specifically trained to be sensitive to, and knowledgeable of,
the trauma of family violence cases of sexual/physical abuse of
adults and children.
The Center Against Family Violence has
on-scene crisis intervention from trained Victim Services
personnel; medical attention is provided on-site to physical and
sexual assault victims; and one-time video interviews are done
with victims to avoid retraumatization. Five agencies
(government and non-profit) work in complete cooperation, in one
location.
In response to enacted legislation, officers housed
at the Center are also responsible for notifying and educating
the community about the release of convicted sex offenders.
The Problem In the United States
- Over one million victims a year report domestic
violence.
- Violence occurs in half of relationships.
- Over 700,000 women report being raped or sexually
assaulted annually.
- Two million children are abused in their own homes every
year.
- 1,200 to 2,000 of these children die as a result of the
abuse.
- As many as 10% of the elderly are abused by their adult
children.
Partners at the Center Against Family Violence
The office of the Maricopa County Attorney and the
City of Mesa Prosecutor's Office have jointly committed
to participate in the Center Against Family Violence to improve
the prosecution of misdemeanor and felony cases involving
domestic violence, adult and child sexual/physical abuse.
Additionally, the County Attorney's Victim/Witness Bureau and
the Office of the City Prosecutor's Victim Rights Program
provide legal and emotional support to victims throughout the
court process.
St. Joseph's Hospital & Medical Center
provides on-site medical services, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
at the Center Against Family Violence for child physical and
sexual abuse victims. The Center Against Family Violence
provides a comforting, nurturing environment where medical
examinations are conducted in a non-threatening, confidential
setting. The medical evaluation involves forensic specimen
retrieval and testing for sexually transmitted diseases in
addition to a thorough physical examination of the patient.
The Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner/Domestic Violence
Unit of Scottsdale Health Care provides medical & forensic
examinations for adult victims.
The Arizona Department of Economic Security - Child
Protective Services, along with the Mesa Police Department
Victim Services, provide on-site services to victims of
sexual assault, domestic violence and immediate intervention in
cases of child neglect or abuse. Working with the courts, the
medical system and the police department, CPS and Victim
Services reflect the integrative approach that is the hallmark
of the Center Against Family Violence. - The Arizona Department
of Economic Security - Child Protective Services, along with the
Mesa Police Department Victim Services, provide on-site services
to victims of sexual assault, domestic violence and immediate
intervention in cases of child neglect or abuse. Working with
the courts, the medical system and the police department, CPS
and Victim Services reflect the integrative approach that is the
hallmark of the Center Against Family Violence.