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DA, officials pick Thousand Oaks as East County Family Justice Center location; cities pledge funding
Summary
The District Attorney recommended and the Board of Supervisors received and filed a plan to site the third Ventura County Family Justice Center in Thousand Oaks, citing geography, calls-for-service data and municipal cost-sharing pledges from Thousand Oaks and Simi Valley.
The Ventura County District Attorney's Office told the Board of Supervisors on Dec. 17 that Thousand Oaks is the recommended location for a new East County Family Justice Center (FJC) to serve victims of domestic violence, child abuse and related crimes.
District Attorney Erik Nazerenco and his team briefed the board on a months-long regional planning effort and data showing higher counts of domestic-violence calls and child‑abuse reports in the Thousand Oaks area than in neighboring Simi Valley. The DA said the site was selected to reduce travel times and remove a transportation barrier for East County residents who currently must travel across the ridge for FJC services.
Why it matters: Family Justice Centers co-locate law enforcement, victim services and courts in a single, victim-centered facility, improving access to restraining orders and wraparound support. The county already operates FJCs in Ventura and Oxnard; a Thousand Oaks site is intended to close an access gap for communities above the grade.
What the board heard: Nazerenco summarized demographic and 911-call analyses and said the city of Thousand Oaks pledged $2 million toward site acquisition; Simi Valley pledged $1 million. The DA's office said it will seek an existing building around 8,000–12,000 square feet for purchase, not lease, and that ride‑share support is already in place under a 2022 county contract to help victims reach centers. Casey Gwinn, founder of Alliance for Hope International, a national FJC advisor, told the board Ventura County is a national model and urged sustained, regional commitment.
Next steps: Staff will evaluate properties and return with site-specific recommendations and purchase authorization at a future board meeting. The DA noted the county intends to ensure a permanent presence of detective or domestic-violence personnel at the site and to enable transportation support for victims.
Board action: The board voted unanimously to receive and file the DA's report. Supervisors thanked the DA and local officials and urged quick progress on site identification and funding.
Ending: The recommendation does not authorize an acquisition; it establishes Thousand Oaks as the preferred East County location and sets in motion property evaluation, budgeting and partner coordination to bring the center online.
