About The Barbara J. Hart Justice Center

A civil legal assistance project of the Women's Resource Center

The purpose of the Barbara J. Hart (BJH) Justice Center is to seek justice, safety, autonomy, and restoration for individual survivors, and to further efforts for a more just society for all persons.

SCOPE

The BJH Justice Center utilizes the combined skills of advocates and attorneys to advance the civil legal opportunities for survivors of domestic and sexual violence. It was established to address unmet civil legal needs of WRC program participants in Lackawanna and Susquehanna Counties, and to build legal expertise in domestic and sexual violence. Civil legal assistance includes consultation, preparation, advocacy, referral, accompaniment, and representation in the areas of custody, visitation, spousal support, child support, Protection From Abuse, divorce, bankruptcy, sexual harassment, immigration, summary offenses, and other civil legal matters.

GOALS

  • Advocacy on behalf of individual program participants involved with WRC due to domestic and/or sexual violence.
  • Identify and address barriers to justice for survivors of domestic and sexual violence.
  • Act as a catalyst for social change locally, throughout the Commonwealth, and nationally.

ACTIVITIES

  • Civil legal assistance is provided to WRC safe house residents and program participants.
  • Seminars are conducted by the BJH Justice Center staff on a variety of topics related to domestic and sexual violence.
  • An annual regional conference is sponsored by the BJH Justice Center for the legal community and other professionals.
  • Legal resource and educational groups are offered on a regular basis to provide program participants with information related to legal rights, specific laws and court practice. Group members have an opportunity to share resources and information gained through prior court or legal proceedings experience. Advocacy is a primary focus.

Survivors and victims of domestic and sexual violence can contact the Women's Resource Center through the HOTLINE

To request a seminar, speaker, or to be added to the mailing list for the annual conference, contact the BJH Justice Center.

Barbara J. Hart Justice Center
c/o WRC, P.O. Box 975
Scranton, PA 18501
(570) 342-4077 phone

BIOGRAPHY on Barbara J. Hart, Esq.

Barbara J. Hart is the legal director of the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence and an associate director of the Battered Women's Justice Project. Her work includes public policy making, training, and technical assistance on a broad range of issues such as: crafting coordinated community intervention systems; development and critique of legislation; development of court procedures and standards; consultation on impact litigation; and designing training curricula. She consults with diverse organizations/agencies related to strategies to end violence against women and children including the Office on Violence Against Women, the Centers for Disease control, the National Institute of Justice, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges, the National College of District Attorneys, the National Center for State Courts, the Urban Institute, the Muskie Institute and the Institute for Law and Justice.

Ms. Hart maintains a private consultation and training practice, providing assistance to lawmakers, business leaders, researchers, community-based centers, and treatment programs for violent men. She has authored and co-authored many articles on domestic violence, including: State Codes on Domestic Violence: Analysis, Commentary and Recommendations; Model Code on Domestic and Family Violence; Safety and Accountability: The Underpinnings of a Just System; Confronting Domestic Violence: Effective Police Response; Seeking Justice: Coordinated Justice System Intervention Against Domestic Violence; Safety for Women: Monitoring Batterers' Programs; and Accountability: Program Standards for Batterer Intervention Services.

Barbara J. Hart is one of several founders of the battered women's movement who has advocated on behalf of battered women within the various components of the legal system. Her efforts continue to address policy and practice issues on a state and national basis. Barbara J. Hart has lent her name and support to the WRC Barbara J. Hart Justice Center, but does not work out of the Justice Center. She may be reached at:

Legal Director
PCADV
1601 Connecticut Ave., NW, Suite 500
Washington, DC 20009
800/256-5883
bjh@pcadv.org