NJ’s Largest Domestic Violence Center to be Built in Monmouth County

A privately funded non-profit organization recently broke ground on a new facility for victims of domestic violence in Monmouth County that will become the largest shelter of its kind in New Jersey.

On Tuesday, March 3rd, the organization, called 180 Turning Lives Around, held its official groundbreaking ceremony at the New Jersey Natural Gas headquarters in Wall Township. The facility, which will cost $7.5 to build, will serve as a haven for victims or domestic and sexual violence in surrounding localities.

The non-profit’s current facility hosts 25 beds, while the new location, which remains undisclosed, will contain 45 beds, becoming the largest of its kind in the State. The opening date of the new facility is set for the beginning of 2016 and construction is said to have already begun.

The facility will house adults, children, and families for between one and two months, during which the residents will be provided counseling, advocacy, and assistance in obtaining permanent housing. The significance of this new shelter cannot be underemphasized, as Monmouth County has been cited as having the second-highest number of reported domestic violence incidents in New Jersey.

When a domestic violence incident occurs, individuals involved can face criminal charges in addition to temporary and/or permanent restraining orders. Some of the crimes often associated with domestic violence cases include: aggravated assault, terroristic threats, sexual assault, harassment, stalking, and simple assault.

If you have been accused of one of the aforementioned offenses, your case will be adjudicated in criminal court. If you are facing a temporary restraining order in addition to criminal charges, you will be required to attend a final restraining order hearing in the Chancery Division, Family Part, of the Superior Court in the county of the alleged offense.

Being convicted of a criminal offense can result in a host of severe penalties, including a prison sentence. If a final restraining order is entered against you, you may face collateral consequences related to custody arrangements, alimony, and other issues involved in divorce proceedings. In addition, violating a final restraining order is a criminal offense, referred to as “contempt,” which can negatively impact your life and reputation for years to come.

For additional information regarding this issue, access the following article: Monmouth County will be home to N.J.’s largest shelter for domestic violence victims