Navigating the legal system can be daunting for anyone, but for survivors of domestic violence, it can be especially intimidating and retraumatizing. At Rose Brooks Center, our Court Advocacy Program exists to ensure survivors never have to face the courts alone.
Keeping Survivors’ Safety and Voices at the Center
Maryanne, Rose Brooks Center’s Order of Protection Advocate, works alongside survivors as they take critical legal steps toward safety.
“I help survivors file for emergency protection through the court, connect them to free legal representation, and give them the support and guidance they need while they petition the court for a full order of protection,” Maryanne shares.
For survivors who are still processing trauma, court proceedings can feel overwhelming. Advocates step in to provide clarity, reassurance, and steady support.
“An advocate’s role is to keep the survivor’s voice and safety at the forefront of this process,” Maryanne explains. “Our guidance gives survivors breathing room to recover and focus on their own or their children’s safety.”
A Constant Presence in Municipal Court
Rose Brooks Center’s Court Victim Advocates are present at municipal court five days a week, offering quiet but persistent support to survivors. That support can look different for each person, sometimes it’s as simple as sharing information about our 24-hour hotline, and other times it means accompanying someone to court, where there abuser may be present.
No matter the level of need, advocates meet survivors where they are, ensuring access to resources, understanding, and compassion during an incredibly vulnerable time.
Breaking the Cycle and Building Safer Futures
Beyond court accompaniment and protection orders, Rose Brooks Center advocates also provide victim-offender support and education and rehabilitation services for youth reoffenders. This holistic approach helps interrupt cycles of violence and promotes accountability, healing, and long-term safety.
Through advocacy, education, and unwavering support, Rose Brooks Center is working every day to build safer futures for survivors, children, and families across our community.
To learn more about our Court Advocacy program, visit: https://rosebrooks.org/service/court-advocacy/
