Volunteers counsel victims about legal rights
By: Jennifer Potash
A regional effort between local police departments and Womanspace Inc. that aims to help domestic-violence victims and prevent future instances is drawing the participation of a growing number of central New Jersey municipalities.
Volunteers meet with victims of domestic violence at police stations to offer information on legal and social options, and to help victims feel comfortable and safe.
The importance of combating domestic violence is also being recognized locally through the Princeton YWCA, which is participating in the national YWCA Week Without Violence observance with events focusing on the theme "the family at peace."
The events, which include seminars on conflict resolution and domestic violence, run through Monday.
Domestic-violence incidents range from verbal abuse to threats of injury to physical violence against a family member.
The Domestic Violence Victim Response Team, begun in East Windsor in 1997, expanded in 1999 with the addition of more volunteers from the Princetons and West Windsor. Hopewell Township and Pennington Borough are also partners in the effort. Ewing Township has recently trained a team of volunteers and Lawrence Township is in the process of recruiting volunteers.
Plainsboro Township has a regional Domestic Violence Response Team operating out of the police department.
The volunteers meet with victims of domestic violence at the police stations and counsel them about legal rights, transportation to shelters and financial assistance.
Patricia Hart, executive director of Womanspace, said the teams, which have roughly 60 volunteers, have helped more than 225 domestic violence victims since 1997.
The feedback from volunteers has been overwhelmingly positive, Ms. Hart said.
"They feel supported to and listened to," she said.
The partnerships with the police departments have also worked very well, she said.
Ms. Hart hopes more police departments in Mercer County will join the effort.
Two participating police departments – Princeton Borough and West Windsor Township – find the program effective in helping victims of domestic violence through a most difficult time.
Princeton Borough Police Chief Thomas Michaud said the victims who accepted the help of a volunteer appreciated the assistance.
"The volunteers really put the victim at ease and provide important information to the victims in resolving the problem," he said.
West Windsor Police Chief Frank Cox called the program "excellent," and noted the response of women who met with a volunteer has been one of gratitude for the volunteers and for the program.
"We feel the response team is a positive approach to the domestic-violence problem," Chief Cox said. "So far, as far as we’re concerned, we think it was the right move."
For more information about becoming a volunteer for the Domestic Violence Task Force, call Susan Adams at Womanspace at (609) 394-0136. For more information on Week Without Violence events, call (609) 252-2006 or see the Oct. 13 edition of The Packet.
Staff Writer David Campbell contributed to this report.