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Domestic Violence Unit
The Domestic Violence Unit was made possible by the Violence Against Women Act Fund (VAWA). In 2005, there were approximately 1,300 victims of domestic violence in Cameron County, not counting the unknown number of victims that didn't come forward either for fear or lack of awareness. These alarming statistics of crime victims in Cameron County prompted the district attorney's office to create the unit in September 2006 in order to provide a voice for women who have become victims of domestic violence.
The goals of the Domestic Violence Unit are: The Domestic Violence Unit provides specialized prosecution by attorneys trained in domestic violence work. This is fundamental in order to insure consistent advocacy for victims and faster trial dates.
Services provided by the Domestic Violence Unit are: For more information, contact us at (956) 544-0849, Extension: 301.
Staff:
Korina Barraza
Assistant District Attorney/Domestic Violence Unit Supervisor
E-mail: kbarraza@co.cameron.tx.us
Laura Garcia
Assistant District Attorney
E-mail: laura.garcia@co.cameron.tx.us
Raymundo Dovalina
Investigator
E-mail: ray.dovalina@co.cameron.tx.us
Jessica Hinojosa
Paralegal
E-mail: jessica_hinojosa@co.cameron.tx.us
Erica Molina
Protective Order Assistant
E-mail: erica.molina@co.cameron.tx.us
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To improve the level of victim support services and expedite the domestic violence case process
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To increase the conviction rate in domestic violence criminal cases
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And to proactively monitor domestic violence cases to insure compliance
- Emergency legal advocacy
- Processing of protective order applications
- Safety planning with victims
- Referrals to outside legal services
- Non prosecution affidavits at victim's request
- Continuous contact with victim
- Liaison with community
- Vertical prosecution to expedite process
- Proactive monitoring of criminal case
- Prosecuting protective orders
- Monitoring defendants for compliance with court ordered conditions of prosecution
- Advising victims of their role in the criminal justice system
- Crisis counseling through referrals or peer counseling by the legal advocate
- Information referrals in person and by telephone
- Personal advocacy in form of placing victims in contact with other service agencies and by helping victims to deal with schools, employers, and other government agencies
- Telephone information and referrals
- Emergency legal advocacy such as assistance with filing a request for a protective order or calling in a hotline report to Child or Adult Protective Service.
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