Senator Jennifer Beck (R-Monmouth) joined with members of 180 Turning Lives Around and other advocates to cut the ribbon on the new Monmouth County Family Justice Center in Freehold. Senator Beck helped secure the location for the new center.

“I’m proud to have worked closely with 180 Turning Lives Around to help create Monmouth County’s first ever Family Justice Center,” Senator Beck said. “As a former rape crisis advocate, I know the work that 180 does is critically important for our communities. I’m glad we were able to help them secure this location and help them provide a service that Monmouth County desperately needs.”

180 Turning Lives Around is a non-profit organization dedicated to empowering survivors and families affected by domestic violence and sexual assault. They offer counseling, safety planning and other support for victims through 24/7 helplines, and they will be able to boost its presence in Monmouth with the new Family Justice Center in Freehold.

According to 180 Turning Lives Around, Family Justice Centers are recognized as a best practice in the field of domestic violence by the United States Justice Department and by the New Jersey Attorney General. At the center, victims and their families can get crisis support, legal assistance and counseling services all in one safe place. The three other Family Justice Centers in New Jersey are located in Essex, Morris and Union counties.

The Monmouth County Family Justice Center is located on the lower level of the Monmouth County Courthouse. No appointments are necessary, and all of the center’s services are provided free of charge.

“Centers like this are crucial to providing victims of domestic violence and sexual assault with easier access to essential services,” Senator Beck said. “The outstanding volunteers and staff at 180 have put a lot of hard work into making this new center possible, and I’m confident they will be an invaluable resource for our community for years to come. I am very proud to have played a role in supporting their efforts.”