Idaho receives $1 million for Family Justice Center

Lacey Jacobson JAC05006@BYUI.EDU scroll staff

Idaho Senator Mike Crapo received $1 million to aid in the completion of a county Family Justice Center for victims of domestic violence and spousal and child abuse in Ada County, Idaho.

The $1 million will come from the Federal Housing and Urban Development program. The bill passed the full Senate on a vote of 93-1.

“Estimates are that women, and often children, are battered every nine seconds in the United States and we know the problem is growing in Idaho … We need response, awareness and resources, and it is right for the federal government to step up and play a role in fighting domestic violence,” Crapo said.

The language of the bill directing the money to Ada County also offers flexibility so that some funds may also be used for a health detoxification facility that is being considered by the county.

The commissioners of Ada County — Rick Yzaguirre, Judy Peavy-Derr and Fred Tilman — and Prosecutor Greg Bower announced the effort to construct the Family Justice Center by prioritizing services for the victims of domestic abuse, along with prosecution of those responsible for the abuse.

The center is expected to be a one-stop center to assist victims of domestic violence and abuse with medical, legal and counseling assistance and for other similar needs.

Saint Alphonsus, St. Luke’s Regional Medical Centers, all local law enforcement agencies, the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, and women and children advocacy groups are included in a group of partners to assist in the effort.

“We as commissioners want to respond more expeditiously to the abuse of women and children,” said Commission Chairman Rick Yzaguirre. “We appreciate the efforts of our local partners in getting the project underway and Senator Crapo’s efforts will definitely kick-start our efforts to get the Family Justice Center open in the coming year.”

Whether the cases of battering are going up or down in Rexburg is undetermined.

“The change in clients from the second quarter of last year to the second quarter of this year has gone down slightly, but not enough to be considered a significant change,” said Meegan Littlefield, the deputy director of The Family Crisis Center located at 218 Dividend Drive Suite #5 in Rexburg. Littlefield said domestic abuse centers help victims with their problems, determine the victims’ needs and coordinate resources.