The Family Crisis Unit is located at The Family Justice Center  and is currently supervised by Lt. Jeanette Harris The Family Crisis Unit handles all calls related to Domestic Violence, Child Abuse, and Elder Abuse.  The city/county of Knoxville/Knox was awarded a $1,077,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Justice to create a Family Justice Center, which serves as a one-stop resource center for domestic violence victims and their children.  The center, which began operation in May 2006, is supported by more than 60 partner agencies.

The Detectives of this unit have various responsibilities, which include writing incident reports and reviewing all reports written by patrol officers. Also, the detectives contact victims within 72 hours of the initial incident. The detectives conduct on scene investigation, as well as hospitals and office interviews of victims and suspects. They assist victims in obtaining warrants as well as conducting community prevention and awareness programs. The detectives interview children involved in physical or sexual child abuse incidents at Child Help USA.

The Victim Advocates contact victims within 72 hours of reported incidents and assist victims in filing orders of protection and developing a personal safety plan. The Victim Advocates also assist victims during their court proceedings and coordinate community support services, prevention and awareness.

The Family Crisis Unit was established in 1995. Since then this unit has assisted over 200,000 Knox County residents.  The unit is available twenty-four hours a day to assist victims. Detectives as well as Victim Advocates are assigned to this unit.

The personnel assigned to this unit can be reached at (865) 215-6820 from 8 AM to 4:30 PM Monday - Friday. After 4:30 PM you may call (865) 215-2243.

Domestic Violence is a pattern of abusive behaviors used by one individual, to exert power and control over another person, usually in an intimate relationship. It can be physical, sexual, or psychological. The primary purpose is to control, to dominate, or to hurt another within the relationship. Domestic Violence may occur between a male abuser and a female victim; a female abuser and a male victim; two women; or two men. The Domestic Violence statute also extends protection to the elderly and to children.

ABUSE under our statute in Tennessee is:
- Violence
- Threats of violence
- Malicious destruction of property
- Holding against the will
- Placing in fear
- Stalking
- Sexual assault

    
Dating violence (or relationship abuse) is a pattern of over-controlling behavior that someone uses against a girlfriend or boyfriend. Dating violence can take many forms, including mental/emotional abuse, physical abuse, and sexual abuse. So, you may experience dating violence even if you are not being physically abused. It can occur in both casual dating situations and serious, long-tem relationships.