Sheriff donates seized cell phones to victims of domestic violence
Officials with the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office said they have found a way to put some items confiscated during arrests, investigations, or as contraband coming into the jail, to good use.
On Nov. 8, DeKalb County Sheriff Melody Maddox announced that her department donated more than 130 cell phones to local nonprofit Women’s Resource Center to End Domestic Violence (WRCDV) with the hope of “making a positive impact on the lives of domestic violence victims.”
“These cell phones were confiscated from incidents involving arrests, jail cell searches, and attempts to smuggle illegal materials into inmates at the DeKalb County Jail,” said Maddox. “Our investigators have verified that none of the phones belong to anyone, nor are they needed in the prosecution of any case.”
Maddox said the general protocol is to have the phones destroyed, but officials with the sheriff’s office are “glad to be able to put them to better use in the community – to help keep domestic violence victims safe.”
According to officials at the DeKalb County Jail, cell phones are one of the most confiscated items seized during contraband-smuggling attempts.
According to the nonprofit’s website, the Women’s Resource Center to End Domestic Violence is a nonprofit located in DeKalb County that “has a mission to create a society in which domestic violence no longer exists.” Services provided by the center include a 24-hour domestic violence hotline, emergency safe house, transitional housing, legal advocacy, programming for children, support groups, and community education, states the nonprofit’s website.
“We are grateful for Sheriff Maddox’s support of our mission,” said Jean Douglas, WRCDV executive director. “Strong partnerships across DeKalb are essential in advancing our goal of ending family violence.”
Women’s Resource Center to End Domestic Violence can be reached for services and support 24 hours a day, seven days a week at (404) 688-9436 or at www.wrcdv.org.
