At tonight's Board work session there was a presentation on the new "victim's advocate" program Davidson participates in with the other towns of North Mecklenburg. For $15,000/year paid by each municipality, victims of domestic violence receive additional support at a time when they are most vulnerable. Importantly, this advocate also frees up up officers to focus on the crime while the vicitims receive the support they need. United Family Services which administers the program says it has been so successful that they would like to promote this model in other counties.
During the budget debate last summer, funding this program actually came up briefly. Davidson commissioners questioned the equal funding committment from all the towns wondering if it was equitable for each town to pay the same since they include such different populations. To date, 66 cases have received support from the victims advocate office with 15 coming from Davidson.
This type of non-traditional program which supports our community and our public safety officers in doing their jobs clearly represents money well spent.
More on this program from DavidsonNews.net last year.
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