Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Victim Support topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Gaston County district attorney outlines new survivor supports and seeks domestic-violence prevention court
Summary
District Attorney Travis Page described a new First Families of Homicide Support Group, the DALE 11-question danger-assessment used by officers and plans for a high-risk fatality prevention team and a dedicated domestic-violence courtroom and family justice center.
GASTON COUNTY, N.C. ' Gaston County District Attorney Travis Page used the board's Sept. 19 meeting to accept a proclamation for a National Day of Remembrance for Homicide Victims and to describe new local efforts to support survivors and prevent partner homicides.
Page said his office launched the First Families of Homicide Support Group in 2024 to provide ongoing support for families affected by violent deaths, and thanked local law enforcement and community partners for participating in the group. He described the DALE tool, an 11-question danger-assessment administered by responding officers to capture risk indicators such as escalation, firearm presence and threats of suicide.
"We've had over 700 Dells administered over the first year that this program has been implemented," Page told the commissioners, adding that the assessments give prosecutors more information to share with judges and have contributed to tougher bonds and more accountability in prosecutions.
Page said the office is now moving to "phase 2": creation of a high-risk fatality prevention team that shifts emphasis from prosecution alone to prevention, and the eventual establishment of a domestic-violence courtroom on the fifth floor of the courthouse with a co-located family justice center to provide trauma-informed services to victims.
The board adopted the proclamation declaring Sept. 25 as a county candlelight vigil and Day of Remembrance for victims of homicide; Page invited affected families to attend and offered options for submitting photos and information to be recognized at the event.
Why it matters: Page framed the initiative as both victim support and a public-safety strategy to identify cases at elevated risk of partner homicide. The DA said the DALE assessment has informed charging and bond decisions in the county.
What's next: The prosecutor said the support group meets monthly and organizers will host the Sept. 25 memorial at the Rotary Pavilion; Page said work will continue on the multi-agency prevention team and on plans for a dedicated courtroom and justice center.
