Justice Center Groundbreaking

Mayor Michael Bloomberg (at lectern) announces that construction of New York City's second Family Justice Center, in Kew Gardens, has officially begun as (l. to r.) Queens District Attorney Richard Brown, Borough President Helen Marshall, New York City Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly and Yolanda Jimenez, Commissioner of the Mayor's Office to Combat Domestic Violence, among others, look on.

Construction of New York City's second Family Justice Center located in Kew Gardens has officially begun, Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced on Monday April 23. The center, expected to open in spring 2008, will provide comprehensive multilingual services to domestic violence victims and their children. The event also marked the start of National Crime Victims' Rights Week, a tradition that has been observed for 16 years by crime victims and those who serve them. Joining the mayor at the groundbreaking were Queens County District Attorney Richard Brown, Queens Borough President Helen Marshall, Deputy Mayor for Legal Affairs Carol Robles-Roman, Mayor's Office to Combat Domestic Violence Commissioner Yolanda Jimenez, Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly, John Feinblatt, the mayor's Criminal Justice Coordinator, and Andy Dover, chief executive officer of the Joe Torre Safe at Home Foundation.

"The New York City Family Justice Center in Queens represents an innovative approach to providing domestic violence services," Bloomberg said. "Queens is a borough of diverse communities and this center will be a place for government and nonprofit service providers to come together and support victims of domestic violence and their children- all under one roof."

"We are not only breaking ground today for a new Family Justice Center here in Queens but we are also taking an important step in breaking the cycle of violence that affects so many families in our community," District Attorney Brown said. "Through our partnership with Mayor Bloomberg and the onsite service providers, I am confident that the center will only enhance the quality of justice that domestic violence victims have been receiving here in Queens County."

Queens County is the most diverse county in the entire nation with a population of over 2.2 million, 46 percent of whom are foreign-born. Since 1990, approximately one million new immigrants have come to Queens, infusing the borough with a cultural richness that comprises 161 languages. Last year in Queens there were 45,500 reported incidents of domestic violence - representing 21 percent of all reported incidents citywide. The New York City Family Justice Center in Queens will keep the needs of immigrant communities at the forefront of the planning process, providing services and support to overcome the barriers that often prevent immigrant victims from coming forward to receive help.

"Our city and nonprofit partners at the Queens Family Justice Center will represent the diverse needs of our clients," Jimenez said. "Domestic violence victims can take comfort in knowing that, regardless of their primary language or immigration status, they will be able to receive the immediate assistance they need to gain safety and services for themselves and their children."

Victims will be able to walk into the Family Justice Center in Queens and choose from a variety of services that include:

+ Civil legal representation for immigration, housing and Family Court matters

+ Onsite childcare and children's activities

+ Safety planning

+ Assistance with filing police and probation reports

+ Counseling + Support groups + Prosecution of domestic violence crimes + Services for the elderly and/or disabled + Access to emergency shelter and housing + Language interpretation

+ Voluntary spiritual support

"The name says it all- the Family Justice Center, it is about family, justice, and a center where victims of domestic violence can come and find the comprehensive services they need - all in one place," Marshall said. "I am happy to contribute capital funding to support this new facility, conveniently located in Kew Gardens."

Help is also available 24 hours a day to victims by calling 911, 311, or the New York City Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-621-HOPE (4673).