Domestic Violence Advocate Helps Mend Battered Hearts

Julianna Hamor holds a stack of papers close to her chest as she walks out of the to her car. When she returns to her office at the Women's Resource Center, she looks over each page, carefully reading each victim's story of domestic violence, then picks up the phone and begins dialing. 

"Usually I'm the first person that a victim talks to after the police," Hamor said, "and they can be very vulnerable, distraught and confused right after the trauma of an assault or attack."

Hamor, the Law Enforcement Advocate for Bristol, Warren, Barrington and Tiverton, works as a liason between the local police departments and victims of domestic violence. She works closely with the victims after an arrest, assisting them by explaining the court process and what they need to do next. She also serves as the first responder to the victims' emotional and mental needs.

"There is only so much the police department can do for them because they have a lot of other things going on," Hamor said. "Most people haven’t been through the court system at all so they need someone to explain the process. If it is the victim's first time dealing with domestic violence they may need referrals for shelters, counseling, a court advocate and support groups. I'm here to be that friend who can explain the process so they understand, answer questions and explain to them where they can get any help needed."

Though domestic violence cases are usually kept under wraps and are not highly publicized, Hamor says there is no shortage of domestic violence in any town.

"In Warren alone I pick up at least two domestic violence cases a day," Hamor says. "Most people don’t realize that domestic violence can be anything from a shove to a punch in the face. And a lot of people don't realize how prevalent domestic violence is, especially in their own back yard."

Hamor started working in the domestic violence field when she was doing her college internship at the courthouse helping victims file restraining orders.

"I didn’t realize how many people come in on a daily basis for a restraining order," she said. "I had no idea how many people were really affected by domestic violence."

But even after she finished her internship and graduated from in 2009, Hamor asked to continue volunteering with the courts.

"When I realized how prevalent domestic violence was and heard about all of the stories I knew it was what I wanted to do," she said.

From there, Hamor started working within a local shelter and eventually signed on to be the Law Enforcement Advocate. While she admits that the job can be draining, Hamor says that it is personally fulfilling to know that she can help people.

"I'm on call 24/7 for emergencies like sexual assault and serious cases which can be stressful," Hamor said. "It is hard to hear these stories and hard not to take the cases home with us so it is definitely tough and takes a lot out of you. But the feeling of hearing 'thank you so much for all of your help' means so much. It is amazing to feel like you can actually help and are making a difference in someone's life."