Luke Joyce, director of communications for the Department of Justice and Public Safety, said final details on what the Family Violence Intervention Court will look like and its location will be announced in next Thursday’s budget.
In the speech from the throne delivered this week, Lt.-Gov. Frank Fagan said government has evaluated the piloted Family Violence Intervention Court that was in St. John’s and intends to roll out a new court this year that will have a broader provincial reach.
St. John’s lawyer, Lynn Moore, who advocated for the return of this court, said Stephenville is the logical place to put the expansion because the John Howard and a women’s centre are located in the town.
Janice Kennedy, executive director of the Bay St. George Women’s Centre, said the court should come to Stephenville because it’s a good fit with lots of services in the town, including the court system, mental health services, victim services, the women’s centre/shelter and John Howard Society.
“I’m glad to see it coming back and that they are expanding it, as it should have been expanded in 2013,” Kennedy said.
She said while it’s hard to put a direct number on the women the centre deals with that find themselves in violent situations, the centre, it’s certainly a problem in the community.
Kennedy said Family Violence Intervention Court would provide a more supportive core process, support for victims of violence and the family piece would be there.
She said to get involved in this intervention court process the accused has to plead guilty, so that’s an important first step. She said not all women will leave an abusive relationship and this intervention court provides the accused and the victim the supports they need.
Mayor Tom O’Brien said he would also like to see the intervention court come to his town.
He said from his understanding it’s a necessary service and anything that would improve services relating to violence in the region is welcome.
