A variety of

agencies that assist victims of family violence and prosecute offenders

will be putting their heads together to organize a task force to address

the needs of the entire Griffin Judicial Circuit, which includes Fayette

County.

The July 30

organizational meeting is not open to the public, but citizens will be

invited to another meeting later, said Superior Court Judge Tommy Hankinson,

who is organizing the task force.

Hankinson expects

a number of agencies to be at the table, including the Department of Family

and Children Services, the Fayette County Council on Domestic Violence,

victim's witness officials and mediators who handle family violence situations.

The police

chiefs and sheriffs of each jurisdiction in the circuit have also been

invited, Hankinson added.