New satellite offices to offer save haven for domestic violence victims

The Dallas County District Attorney's Office is expanding, opening satellite offices in Cedar Hill and Irving.

The offices will have counselors dedicated to helping citizens navigate through the criminal justice system. They will have a special focus on family violence victims, as the DA's office will place staff at Family Place and Genesis Women's Shelter.

They say it's all about making services available to victims who simply don't have the means to get to the courthouse in downtown Dallas.

Like thousands of others, Darlene - FOX4 won’t use her full name - knows the heart break of sweet love turned sour.

“After we got married it was good for a minute, then after that it went sour,” she said.

In March, after she says her spouse tried breaking into her house, she went for help and got protective orders close to home through one of the DA’s new satellite offices.

“They'll tell you what steps they're gonna take; as far as helping you, as far as what they can do to protect you, and as far as what you have to do to make sure you can maintain that help from them,” Darlene said.

“We want the people to know, these victims to know, our citizens to know, that we are here to help them,” District Attorney Faith Johnson said.

That help will not just be offered at the Frank Crowley Courthouse, but in 11 community satellite offices.

“A lot of our victims simply don’t have the means to get to downtown Dallas,” Irving Police Dpeartment Assistant Chief Bruce Jolley said. “And then you add to that child care or whatever, that just makes it that much more difficult,”

These satellite offices provide a soothing environment for victims; and that can go a long way.

“This is amazing. The efforts that Judge Johnson is doing through the District Attorney’s office, throughout our county, can actually be not only life-changing but life-saving for victims of domestic violence,” said Jan Langbein of Genesis Women’s Shelter.