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PRESS RELEASE
For more information contact:
Isabel Burruel Smutzer
Communications Coordinator 
(520) 740-5622

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 7, 2016
 

PIMA COUNTY’S JUVENILE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ALTERNATIVE CENTER IS A MODEL NOW IMPLEMENTED IN SEATTLE, WASHINGTON
 

Tucson, Arizona–Pima County’s innovative Juvenile Court Domestic Violence Alternative Center (DVAC) program is so successful that it has become a model, now duplicated in Seattle, Washington.  

About a year ago, a team from the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office in Seattle heard about Pima County’s success with our DVAC diversion program. The King County Prosecutor was so impressed, he decided to launch his own version of the program, modeled closely after Pima County’s program. The King County program was launched just last week on June 30, 2016.

The DVAC program is an alternative to detention for juveniles who are arrested for misdemeanor domestic violence offenses.  It allows them a safe cooling off period in a location outside the home, but apart from Juvenile Detention, and provides them with a diversion alternative to being prosecuted. 

The DVAC program offers immediate therapeutic interventions to unite children and families. Juveniles are offered counseling and other services to support and encourage them to pursue positive alternatives and make choices that will deter future criminal conduct and keep them from entering the adult criminal justice system with the potential of a criminal record. 

Pima County’s DVAC program was created in 2007, with the support and collaboration from major partners in Pima County, including leadership by Pima County Juvenile Court under Presiding Judge Kathleen Quigley, and participation by the Pima County Public Defender’s Office under Steve Sonenberg, and the Pima County Attorney’s Office under Barbara LaWall. The program has been extremely successful, showing a significant reduction in juvenile domestic violence offenses.

“I am very pleased at the success of Pima County’s program and am honored that my Office was a part of the team that created the DVAC program. I will continue to be a strong supporter and work to keep our young people out of the criminal justice system, while maintaining public safety,” said Pima County Attorney Barbara LaWall.  “Kudos to our Juvenile Court for its leadership in establishing this successful, model program.”

 
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