Accomplishments

1981         Agency founded as the Colorado Coalition for Justice for Abused Women (CCJAWS).

1984         Renamed Project Safeguard and was incorporated as a 501(c) 3.  

1985         Project Safeguard received a grant from the Department of Justice to assist the Denver Police and Courts develop methods of response to the growing issue of domestic violence and participate in the court process.

1986         Acted as consultant to PBS in the production of the Frontline documentary recounting a domestic homicide of Pamela Gunther entitled “My Husband’s going to Kill Me”.

1987         Initiated Colorado’s first advocacy program for female defendants in domestic violence cases.

1990         Assisted in the development of Denver’s domestic violence response protocol and drafting the language for criminal violations of restraining orders.

      1992         Featured in the National Center for Juvenile and Family Court Judges Programs as a model program.

1993          Requested for court services in the 18^th Judicial District restraining order courts.

1994          Participated in the legislative process toward passage of the Domestic Violence Omnibus Bill.

1996          Established the Domestic Violence Fatality Review Program and Committee, the CourtWatch program, and requested for court services in the 17^th Judicial District.

1998          Began collaboration with Denver Department of Human Services to provide support to domestic violence victims identified through the TANF program.

2000           Established bilingual Spanish services.

2002           Expanded 17^th Judicial District Program into BroomfieldCounty.

2004           CourtWatch begins providing service to JeffersonCounty and expands Arapahoe service.

2005           Instrumental in effectuating revamping of protection order courts in ArapahoeCounty to improve the process for victims.

2006           Began pilot project to provide outreach to domestic violence victims during Dependency and Neglect cases at the request of Adams County Court.

2007           CourtWatch completes Jefferson County Protection Order Study. Developed 2 protection order videos: one for aiding victims to prepare to represent themselves in Permanent Protection Order hearings (English, Spanish, and closed captioning) and one for law enforcement on protection order enforcement. Assisted with the drafting of and testified on behalf of recent legislation on financial protections added to the Colorado Civil Protection Order Statute. Permanently established Dependency & Neglect domestic violence advocacy program in the 17^th Judicial District.