Local and area

officials who assist victims of family violence and prosecute offenders

are working together to help improve the process and identify related

needs for the four counties in the Griffin Judicial Circuit, which includes

Fayette County.

At an organizational

meeting of a new task force on domestic violence Wednesday, officials

brought up several concepts to explore in the future, including:

An emergency

shelter for victims to serve Pike, Spalding and Upson counties that would

also serve Fayette residents. All four counties are part of the Griffin

Judicial Circuit and the state has expressed an interest in financially

supporting such a shelter. Fayette residents use other nearby shelters

on an emergency basis although there is not one located here.

Increasing

public awareness about domestic violence and seeking support from local

governing bodies.

More education

and training for law enforcement and judicial officials on family violence

cases.

Evaluating

current resources available to victims and developing more programs, including

counseling to children who are affected by family violence.

The task force

includes representatives of Fayette County's law enforcement, judicial,

victim's advocate and counseling agencies and their counterparts in Pike,

Spalding and Upson counties.

Fayette County

Superior Court Judge Tommy Hankinson, who organized the meeting, said

he felt the counties could work together for certain projects that they

would unlikely be able to accomplish on their own. He particularly supported

the idea of creating an emergency shelter to serve the judicial circuit.

"We have

a much better opportunity to do that working as a group," Hankinson

said.

Bonnie Campbell

of the Fayette County Council on Domestic Violence said officials with

the Georgia Department of Community Health have said they can provide

funds for a shelter to serve the Pike-Spalding-Upson area. Fayette residents

could also use such a shelter as they use other facilities in adjacent

counties, Campbell noted.

The task force

should also consider finding a way to improve access to legal advice for

victims who can't afford their own attorneys, said Damon Sanderson, assistant

solicitor-general for Fayette County.

Campbell agreed

that some victims can't afford legal representation although legal advocates

currently assist victims with obtaining temporary restraining orders free

of charge.

Hankinson noted

that all Georgia attorneys are required to do pro bono work and it might

be good to seek the help of the Fayette County Bar Association in devising

such a system.

Peachtree City

Police Chief James Murray suggested that the task force elicit support

from local governments by asking them to pass a resolution supporting

the task force. The political support would also help when funds are necessary

to implement certain initiatives, Murray added.

Getting the

word out about domestic violence is also crucial, Murray said.

"It's

one of the most important issues when it comes to violence growing in

communities," Murray said. "... I can see that we're having

more problems with it."