Harrison County Survivors Of Domestic, Sexual Violence Can Now Testify Remotely

Survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault in Harrison County can now seek justice without sharing a courtroom with their assailants.

Marion County-based nonprofit HOPE, Inc. is now offering a remote outreach program for survivors, which allows them to file safety order petitions and participate in hearings without visiting the county courthouse in person.

Survivors can participate in remote court sessions from the nonprofit’s office Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The program expansion was announced by the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia in a press release Wednesday. Chief Justice Tim Armstead said the remote outreach program can help survivors “seek the protection of the courts in a safe and less intimidating setting.”

The program, known as the Remote Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Outreach Program, is funded through the West Virginia Division of Justice and Community Services, as well as the West Virginia Foundation for Rape Information and Services.

With the expansion, Harrison County joins eight other counties across West Virginia in offering remote court proceedings to survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. The program is also available in Cabell, Jefferson, Kanawha, Lincoln, Mason, Ohio, Wayne and Wood counties.

“We will continue to look for opportunities to expand this service throughout West Virginia,” Armstead said.

HOPE, Inc. can be reached during working hours at 304-624-9835, or during any time of day at the nonprofit’s 24-hour hotline, 304-367-1100. For more information, visit the organization’s website.

Survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault in Harrison County can still file safety orders any time of day through the county’s magistrate court by calling 911.