CSUN’s Strength United and its partners in the Family Justice Center recently unveiled its new mock courtroom, which will help victims of abuse, assault or domestic violence by giving them a chance to get accustomed to a court setting before they must testify.

The courtroom also serves as a training space for forensic nurse examiners, law enforcement, and others who have never testified or have little courtroom experience.

The Family Justice Center in Van Nuys co-locates advocates, police and others responsible for investigating crimes alongside our faculty, staff and students from social work and marriage and family therapy programs. This effort was a precursor to community policing, and it removes barriers to services, reduces negative experiences with governmental institutions and shifts focus to the emotional and social economic needs of victims.

The Family Justice Center is a partnership with CSUN’s Strength United, Dignity Health and the Los Angeles Police Department. Thanks to a grant from the Ahmanson Foundation, the mock courtroom was constructed to include a jury area, witness box, judge’s bench and podium for attorneys to address the jury.

Strength United is a chartered center of CSUN’s Michael D. Eisner College of Education, committed to ending the cycle of interpersonal violence and abuse.

The mock courtroom was available for tour on Feb. 8 during an event to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of the Family Justice Center.

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