BUFFALO, N.Y. — A local domestic violence support organization has received a record donation.
Assemblyman Pat Burke announced Monday that the Family Justice Center, FJC, will receive $500,000 to expand the forensic medical unit. They will also use the funding for victim-centered living spaces, a food pantry, and more forensic technology.
FJC has recently seen a record number of clients with near-lethal injuries, along with a trend of severe and extreme abuse cases on the rise.
"An investment of this size will allow the forensic medical unit to be a capacity-building community resource to all professionals working in the field of domestic violence, equipping them with the necessary tools and resources to effectively support survivors," Family Justice Center CEO Catharine Miles-Kania said. "This investment will improve court outcomes for survivors by enhancing our capacity to address and document serious injuries with state-of-the-art technology."
The donation allows FJC to carry the resources necessary to provide safety and security to those affected by domestic violence. This marks the largest contribution in the history of the justice center.