Regina Bechtle, SC draws our attention to the following…. “Good (if brief) coverage on NPR today of a program for victims of domestic violence at St. Joseph’s Regional Medical Center, sponsored by the Sisters of Charity of Saint Elizabeth, Convent Station, NJ!”

From the story…

Injured victims being treated at St. Joseph’s can navigate the court process from their hospital beds.

For many of the people who choose to talk about their injuries, the evidence is often painfully clear, says Sister Maryanne Campeotto, vice president of mission at St. Joseph’s, who helped start the initiative.

She says the hospital staff noticed how hard it was for victims with injuries to get up the courage to ask for help. Seeking assistance can become an even tougher proposition once people leave the safety of the hospital.

“When the program began four years ago, it was the first of its kind in New Jersey (and has since been replicated at hospitals across the state). Soon it will be the first program to be available around the clock. A judge will be on call by iPad at night and on weekends, when most domestic violence victims show up at the hospital.”