The grants to support families in the justice system program (referred to as the justice for families program) was authorized in the violence against women reauthorization act of 2013 to improve the…

The grants to support families in the justice system program (referred to as the justice for families program) was authorized in the violence against women reauthorization act of 2013 to improve the response of the civil and criminal justice system to families with a history of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking, or in cases involving allegations of child sexual abuse. The program supports the following activities for improving the capacity of courts and communities to respond to families affected by the targeted crimes: court-based and court-related programs; supervised visitation and safe exchange by and between parents; training for people who work with families in the court system; civil legal services; and the provision of resources in juvenile court matters. Projects supported by the justice for families program are those that focus on keeping victims and their children safe from further abuse and holding offenders accountable. Through this continuation justice for families project, oswego county opportunities, INC and its collaborative partners, oswego county family court, oswego county district attorneys office, oswego county probation, oswego county department of social services, oswego city police department, fulton city police department, and child advocacy center of oswego county, will implement a comprehensive project addressing the following purpose areas: 1) supervised visitation and safe exchanges; 5) court and court-based programs and services: enable courts or court-based or court-related programs to develop or enhance: offender management, monitoring, and accountability programs; and 6) civil legal assistance. Specific activities will include: 1) supporting 2.0 FTE monitors/ victim advocates to continue to provide supervised visits and exchanges with families impacted by domestic violence; 2)contracting an attorney with experience and training to provide civil legal services to increase the safety of victims of domestic violence and their children; and 3) hiring part-time facilitators in the offender accountability program to work with individuals who perpetrate violence as a means to enhance offender accountability, compliance with the court orders, and enhance victim safety. This is a continuation of 2017-FJ-AX-0011.