Durham Family Justice Center gives families resources to escape violence

Survivors of domestic violence in Durham will now have an easier time getting connected with important services.

From legal help to law enforcement and counseling, there are a lot of resources that survivors need. And right now they are scattered around the city. That changes Monday when the Durham Family Justice Center opens its doors.

This will be the community’s first family justice center. The center will provide support for families affected by domestic violence, sexual violence and even human trafficking.

This center will bring together representatives from the crisis response center, legal aid and Durham County Sheriff's Office — with plans to add counselors and housing advocates.

The center has a new executive director, Damien Talley, who started in January.

"I'm hoping my time here will bring some stability," said Talley.

Part of that stability, Talley believes, is opening the Durham Family Justice Center on East Morgan Street.

"The importance of the Durham Family Justice Center is to create a space where we bring the help to you," said Talley. "This is that one-stop shop for everybody."

The need for these services is growing.

"Unfortunately, we have a great need for this," said Durham County Commissioner Wendy Jacobs.

Jacobs said the county is proud to be a part of this new center.

"It is meant to be a place where people can come to get whatever they need, whether it is legal help with a restraining order, medical care or attention, help with housing, counseling, help for their children," Jacobs said.

Domestic homicides on the rise

Findings from the NC Coalition Against Domestic Violence shows 28 homicides this year in the state have been domestic in nature. That's significantly outpacing 2022 in which there were 47, and 2021 when there were 67, and 2020 when there were 61.

The National Commission on COVID-19 and Criminal Justice showed that domestic violence incidents in the U.S. increased by 8.1 percent following the imposition of lockdown orders during the 2020 pandemic.

LeKisha Polite, Nicole Bullock's sister, said Nicole tried to seek help before she was tragically murdered at a Durham hotel room in March. She said changes like these could have helped Nicole, a domestic violence victim, and will help victims in the future.

"I think if she would've had resources, it could have been a different situation," Polite said. "Now her boys are growing up without a mom."

Durham Crisis Response Center

This is not the only improvement for survivors. The Durham Family Justice Center provides resources, but the Crisis Response Center provides shelter for survivors.

The Crisis Response Center recently finished renovations. The newly renovated shelter will reopen in a few weeks.

During renovations, survivors and their families have been placed in hotels.