Survivors of sexual and domestic violence in Greenbrier County are now eligible to participate in West Virginia’s Remote Victim Outreach Program.
Through the program, residents can participate in court hearings remotely at designated off-site locations, typically local advocacy groups. That means survivors can testify without sharing a courtroom with their abusers.
The Family Refuge Center is a domestic violence and sexual assault prevention center based in Lewisburg, which currently provides services in Greenbrier, Mercer, Monroe and Pocahontas counties.
The center will host the remote outreach program for Greenbrier County, announced by the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals in a Dec. 11 press release. Survivors of “domestic violence, stalking, rape or dating violence” are all eligible to participate, according to the press release.
In the past, residents had to file petitions and appear in court hearings in person at the county magistrate courtroom.
But Greenbrier County residents can now attend hearings from a “remote courtroom” in their center “to eliminate the option of them having to be in a small courtroom with their abuser,” said Executive Director Stephanie Moore.
In the future, Moore said she hopes her center can expand the program to neighboring counties in southeastern West Virginia to make court proceedings less burdensome for survivors.
“The primary goal of this was first to consider the safety of victims,” she said. “Victims oftentimes feel uncomfortable being in the same room with their abuser.”
Moore said her center’s participation in the program is part of a broader effort to provide “trauma-informed care,” recognizing that experiences of violence can create painful memories and addressing needs accordingly.
In last week’s press release, West Virginia Supreme Court Chief Justice Tim Armstead described locations like the Family Refuge Center as “less intimidating” environments than traditional courtroom settings.
“This remote technology helps to make our justice system more accessible to our citizens,” he said.
Meanwhile, Moore said the program can help introduce residents to the services her organization provides more broadly.
“It gives victims direct access to our services as well as our advocates,” she said. “At any point in time that they may want legal representation, then our facility is open and available for legal counsel to attend the hearing with them.”
Greenbrier County is the twelfth county in West Virginia eligible for the program, following its launch in the spring of 2023.
The program was expanded to Harrison County in August, as well as Marion and Monongalia counties in November.
Like Moore, Armstead said the state’s Supreme Court hopes to bring the program to additional counties in the future.
“We look forward to continuing its expansion across our state,” he said.
In the meantime, Moore said her organization is working to get the word out to Greenbrier County residents.
“Exposure is everything,” she said. “We’re just hoping that this can get out to everyone that needs it, and that people will spread the word so that we can start assisting more people.”
The Family Refuge Center can host remote hearings through the Remote Victim Outreach Program weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
To learn more or access support, contact the center at 304-645-6324. Additional information is available online through the organization’s website.