The Family Advocacy Center marks two years in which Tempe Crime offers victims

The Tempes Family Advocacy Center was opened in 2023 in a confidential place where Tempe Police and Care 7 Advocates provide resources for victims of crime with the support of Arizona State University.

Today, victims of crime such as Shelley Cooper have even more resources about the city's Family Advocacy Center, explained a publication of the city. Cooper never thought that she would be a victim of domestic violence, but then her one -year relationship became violent and culminated in a kidnapping.

She escaped after three traumatic days and called Tempe Police for help. This decision to seek help led to intensive support for both a Tempe Police Detective and Care 7 sacrificial lawyer, according to the press release.

Cooper remembered in the press release that the lawyer who helped her (her) to (her) to say, for (she) and whatever she needed. “

“I will be grateful forever,” said Cooper.

All victims of crime in speeds can receive comprehensive services and lawyers free of charge for the immediate and long -term need at the center. Students, residents and visitors to all ages can meet the TEMPE Police with the supporters of the victims and, if desired, to get help in a safe and healing environment.

The supporters offer security planning and emotional support, accommodation and housing care, help navigating criminal and civil justice systems, personal interests and accompaniment to court, healing services such as yoga and expressive art and much more.

Family adjustment centers are considered a gold standard for victims of crime and their families, but the center of pens is unique in several ways, according to the publication.

The center creates a home environment that offers a comfortable living room and a quiet room for reflection and self -care, children's play areas, yoga and art space as well as a kitchen with drinks and snacks.

For those who need additional resources, there is also a wardrobe and a washing machine. The comfort of the city, Canine Sully, offers everyone who wants to have their calming presence, according to the publication.

And as part of the Department of Health and Human Services of Temples, the victims can be connected directly to a variety of city resources, such as: B. inexpensive consulting services and emergency accommodation.

This holistic approach supports the victims and their families when they heal and look in the bright future, the publication says.

Tempes Family Advocacy Center serves everyone who has become victims regardless of the type of crime, while other centers mainly focus on more violent crimes such as sexual assault, domestic violence and children's crimes.

The city's Family Advocacy Center is deliberately designed with Advocacy services on one side of the building and the police services on the other.

Officers of the Tempe Police Family Family Crimes Unit and the Special victim unit are in the center. In cooperation with ASU, there is also a committed space to offer students the advocacy and police services for victims. Services with or without police participation can receive victims.

Anyone who is a victim of crime can call the 24/7-Care & Hope line under 480-350-8004 to contact a victim's advocate. The victims can also turn 911 to start working with the police. Ultimately, a detective and a victim attorney is commissioned to support the victim together.

Before the opening of the family adjustment center, victims and sometimes their children met lawyers in the busy, public lobby of the Tempe Police Department and the Tempe Municipal Court Building. Victims would be brought into an interview room and might be interacted on the way with non -related suspects in the same room.

In the Family Advocacy Center, the victims only come to a confidential, welcome place for victims. Detectives with simple clothing carry interviews in “soft rooms” with touches such as carpet floors, cozy chairs and blankets. Interviews can be lengthy, and the victims are invited to take breaks in the nearby kitchen or in other comfortable rooms.

“It calms down … You want it to look like normal living space,” Sgt. Jorge Lomeli, who monitors the unit for family crimes, said in the press release.

Since supporters and police are managed together, they can communicate and work together faster and easier to meet the needs of victims and their families, said Anastasia Stinchfield, coordinator for victim services, in the press release.

“All victims and families have a team in the Family Advocacy Center, which focuses on listening, building trust and adapting services in order to meet the needs of a person now and in the future,” said Stinchfield.