MORRIS COUNTY, N.J. — The Morris County Board of County Commissioners has proclaimed October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month, recognizing efforts to support survivors and highlighting a partnership between JBWS and law enforcement.
Commissioner Director Stephen Shaw presented a framed proclamation to JBWS President and CEO Diane Williams and Crisis Response Team Project Manager Robin Hughes during a public meeting last week.
They were joined by Morris County Sheriff James Gannon, Prosecutor Robert Carroll and members of the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office leadership team.
“October is observed as Domestic Violence Awareness Month to raise awareness of domestic violence, recognize organizations working to support survivors and encourage efforts to build safe and healthy relationships free from abuse,” said Director Shaw. “We appreciate the partnership between JBWS and law enforcement and the work JBWS has been doing for 50 years to make sure victims of abuse have access to help when they need it.”
Williams and Hughes discussed the JBWS Crisis Response Team, which works with law enforcement following domestic violence incidents to provide victims with immediate support, safety planning and connections to additional services.
Hughes said the partnership with law enforcement has grown significantly since she began working with police departments more than a decade ago. Following a domestic violence homicide in Morris County in 2019, JBWS worked with police chiefs across the county to establish automatic call-outs, allowing officers to request an advocate when a survivor seeks help at a police department.
“Our numbers of victim advocates exceed every other county in the state of New Jersey. We have built a partnership where, when a survivor walks into a police department, an advocate is there to support that person, provide resources and explain the restraining order process,” Hughes said. “That connection matters. It can really change the trajectory of someone’s life.”
The program has expanded through law enforcement training, an automated call-out system and coordination with hospitals in cases involving non-fatal strangulation. The Crisis Response Team assisted more than 1,000 people at police departments in 2025, according to the county.
“I think everyone sees the passion from these two ladies and what they do. You did something that opened up police departments to outside services coming in and joining with them. From that, we’ve built the Morris County ARRIVE Together Program, and other programs have been established throughout the state. I really thank all of you,” Prosecutor Carroll said, also recognizing members of his staff who were present.
JBWS provides emergency shelter, counseling, legal advocacy, transitional housing and other services for domestic violence survivors and their families.
In 2025, the organization’s Crisis Response Team conducted 1,023 interventions. During the same year, 200 adults and children received protection for a combined 8,876 days through Arbour House, the JBWS Emergency Safe House Shelter and hotel placements. Another 67 adults and children stayed for a combined 10,076 days at the Carol G. Simon Transitional Living Resource Center.
JBWS also operates the Morris Family Justice Center, which marked its 10th anniversary this year. The center brings multiple agencies together at the county Administration and Records Building to provide coordinated services to domestic violence victims.
In 2025, the center provided services from multiple agencies to 579 adults. Another 1,139 people received legal advocacy services, while 429 survivors received adult counseling services.
“Our Family Justice Center is celebrating 10 years of those kinds of partnerships, many of them with people in this room. We have incredible partnerships between the county, law enforcement and other nonprofit organizations, and we provided services to 579 survivors in 2025. But what that story doesn’t tell you is that those 579 survivors represent all of the children impacted by those survivors,” said Williams.
JBWS was founded in 1976 by a group of women who recognized the need for a safe place for domestic violence survivors. The organization initially provided emergency shelter in the homes of its founders before establishing its first shelter in Morris County.
“JBWS has been part of Morris County for 50 years, and we are grateful for the people who have made that work possible,” Hughes said. “We have a lot of success stories that people never hear about because they do not make the news. Those successes are happening every day through these partnerships.”
Anyone in Morris County seeking help related to domestic violence can contact the confidential JBWS 24-hour helpline at 1-877-782-2873.
