Commonwealth27s attorney asks council for seven staff to run Family Justice Center after spike in aggravated domestic violence

Colette Petitchen, the Commonwealth27s Attorney for the City of Richmond, asked the council to approve seven additional positions to staff a proposed Family Justice Center, saying the request responds to a sharp increase in severe domestic-violence reports.

"My name is Colette Petitchen. I'm the Commonwealth's attorney for the city of Richmond," Petitchen told the council. She requested a package of seven roles split between victim-witness advocates and attorneys: two victim-witness advocates posted at the Family Justice Center, two additional victim-witness advocates to support the office broadly, a supervising attorney, two assistant commonwealth27s attorneys to appear in court, and a paralegal.

Petitchen urged the council to support a centrally located Family Justice Center "supported by the city of Richmond, supported by the YWCA and their CEO, Rupert Murphy, and also supported by federal and state legislators," arguing the center would provide coordinated services and protection for victims and families.

She cited recent case reporting to show need: "There have already been 19 reported incidents of strangulation or aggravated domestic assault" in 2026, and she said that last year the city saw a 113 percent increase in reported aggravated domestic violence and strangulation.

Petitchen27s request prompted brief council discussion and appreciation; council members thanked her for the detail and signaled they would follow up through the chief of staff on any additional questions. No formal vote occurred in the work session; the request was presented during the FY27 budget discussion so it will be considered alongside other staffing and funding priorities.

Next steps: Petitchen and the victim-witness services director were present to answer questions and council members indicated they expect a follow-up on the proposed positions and their fiscal impact.