Absolutely not.
In a 2015 survey by the National Domestic Violence Hotline, survivors said they were worried that calling the police might result in their information not being kept private and that they would be unfairly judged or stereotyped. Survivors also cited other concerns, such as the chance of an encounter with law enforcement negatively affecting their children and the possibility of an abusive partner retaliating. It can also be hard to feel like you’re getting your partner in trouble, even if they’ve hurt you.
At the Greene County Family Justice Center, all of our services are confidential and survivor led.
Even though we partner with the Springfield Police Department and the Greene County Sheriff’s Office, with detectives from the Domestic Violence Investigations Unit on site, you are not required to meet with law enforcement, and you will not be pressured to do so. All of our services are completely voluntary, and we are ready to meet you wherever you are in your journey.
When visiting the Family Justice Center, one of our Navigators (or community-based advocates) will help you access any services you might need from our other onsite partners, and will be with you every step of the way as your point of contact. So, if you need emergency shelter or counseling or access to a lawyer, our Navigator team will help you create a service plan that best fits your needs. But be certain that you never have to speak to a police officer, let alone file a report, if you choose not to. Although we have officers that are on site, we legally cannot share any of your information with them without your express written consent.
It is entirely up to you to decide which services you would like to utilize at the Family Justice Center. The only thing you have to do to get started is come in or give us a call. We’re here for you.
About GCFJC
The Greene County Family Justice Center is a non-profit collaborative of local agencies offering comprehensive services to survivors of domestic, sexual, and family violence. Our services are trauma-informed, survivor-centered, and we welcome survivors at any point in their process. We partner with local non-profit service providers as well as local law enforcement, the Prosecutor’s office, and Children’s Division to make victim services more accessible and completely voluntary. If you do not want to participate in the criminal justice process, we support you.
Our vision is a future where we all work together to meet the needs of domestic violence and human trafficking survivors through comprehensive and accessible services, education, and perpetrator accountability. Through a coordinated framework and co-located response, we