FORT WAYNE, Ind.—The University of Saint Francis will host a panel discussion about response to domestic violence, presented by the Criminal Justice and Criminology program’s Criminologists in Action (CIA) Club in partnership with the Fort Wayne Police Department’s Victim Assistance Program.
The free event, “Purple with a Purpose: A Coordinated Community Response to Domestic Violence,” will be held on Monday, Oct. 19, from 6 to 8 p.m., in the Achatz Hall of Science and John and Toni Murray Research Center on the campus at 2701 Spring Street.
The discussion will feature a multidisciplinary panel of professionals who respond to domestic violence from different points within the system, including victim advocates, a deputy prosecuting attorney, law enforcement and a therapist/mental health professional.
The panel will allow those in attendance to see how multiple disciplines work together while also understanding the unique role each professional plays in supporting survivors and promoting safety, accountability, healing and empowerment. While law enforcement may respond to the immediate crisis, prosecutors navigate the criminal justice process, therapists support emotional healing and recovery, and victim advocates help survivors understand their options, access resources, develop safety plans, navigate systems and maintain their voice throughout the process.
For more information, contact Criminal Justice and Criminology Program Director Heather Jeffries at hjeffries@sf.edu.
Founded in 1890 in the Catholic Franciscan tradition, the University of Saint Francis offers more than 60 undergraduate, graduate and doctoral programs. The academic structure at Saint Francis offers seven pathways: Humanities, Faith and Liberal Arts; Allied Health; Business and Leadership; Creative Arts and Digital Media; Education, Human Services and Community Care; Nursing; and Sciences and Medical Studies. In addition to its traditional programs, Saint Francis delivers workforce development healthcare programs in Fort Wayne, Crown Point, Gas City, Indianapolis, Lafayette and online. Saint Francis Downtown houses the music technology program while offering enhanced internship and networking opportunities for students. A National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Five-Star Champion of Character institution, Saint Francis has 17 athletic programs boasting three individual and four team NAIA national championships. More than 2,100 students from a broad geographic region attend Saint Francis.