The Fairfax County Police Department provides immediate direct links, and a continuum of services between domestic violence victims and already established resources in community-policed neighborhoods, with the expectation that domestic violence victims will become more willing participants in the criminal prosecution of their abusers. The program, entitled Someplace Safe, will provide temporary protection for domestic violence victims, help them process what has happened to them, enable them to assess their resources and possible courses of action, and assure them of support and encouragement in the process. In this early "window of opportunity," domestic violence victims will be offered comfort, counseling, assessment of needs, referrals to available resources, and information regarding criminal and civil procedures. Someplace Safe will also offer first responding officers a resource for domestic disturbances where one or both partners may need a temporary time-out period. Trained domestic counselors, supervised by the FCPD's Victim Witness Unit, will staff two community-policed satellite offices.
A special resource for police officers in the field for response to domestic violence situations. Several satellite police locations have been designated as temporary safe havens for domestic violence victims. Victims will be afforded immediate protection, support, shelter, and counseling during a difficult time which will also help them to become more willing participants in the criminal justice process. Trained bilingual counselors will be on hand to link victims directly to community resources.
24-hours a day
Victims who need overnight accommodations will be housed at a safe location:
