Harris County law enforcement agencies receive more than 40,000 calls related to domestic violence and they rank first in the state for homicides by family violence, a rate tied to 30% of the county’s homicides and representing the majority of service calls received by the Harris County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) in the unincorporated areas of Precinct 4.
Taking this troubling information as a starting point, Commissioner Lesley Briones has created a new Joint Domestic Violence Response Team in collaboration with the HCSO and the Harris County Domestic Violence Coordinating Council (HCDVCC); the pilot program has already begun operating in Precinct 4. This initiative aims to bring perpetrators to justice and connect survivors with the safety and support they need.
The new team will focus on pending arrest warrants for domestic violence, sexual assault, and other violent crimes, and will connect victims in these cases with safety plans, shelters, and other services.
The new team will focus on outstanding arrest warrants for domestic violence, sexual assault, and other violent crimes, and will connect the victims of these cases with safety plans, shelters, and other services. Photo courtesy of Precinct 4
For every warrant executed, the Sheriff’s Mobile Response and Support Team (SMART) will reach out to the survivor and their family to provide immediate safety planning, access to shelters, and ongoing support.
High-risk cases will be referred to the Harris County Domestic Violence Coordinating Council’s High-Risk Domestic Violence Team, which uses a validated risk assessment to identify the county’s most dangerous cases and coordinates law enforcement, prosecutors, and victim services to follow up.
“The announcement about our Joint Domestic Violence Response Team in Precinct 4 with Commissioner Briones is a major step in equipping victims and survivors with the long-term resources they need, not only to survive in that moment, but to truly escape their abusers and rebuild a healthy life,” said Sheriff Ed González.
The program has annual funding of $2.75 million, plus a one-time investment of $1.4 million, for a total of $4.15 million this year.
If you or someone you know needs help, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or text “START” to 88788.
