MARION, OH (MARION COUNTY NOW)—As the Marion Victim Assistance Program prepares to celebrate its 40th anniversary on Oct. 1, the agency is taking major strides to transform how crime victims are supported throughout the local criminal justice system.
The program, which operates under the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, has completed installation of a new soft interview room designed to provide a trauma-informed environment for individuals reporting crimes. Provided at no cost by Project Beloved—a Texas-based nonprofit founded in memory of homicide victim Molly Jane Matheson—the room contrasts sharply with traditional, sterile police interrogation settings.
Located at the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, the space features swiveling chairs, weighted blankets, soft lighting, and calming aromatherapy diffusers. It is available to deputies, local police officers, and first responders throughout Marion County.
“It’s just a huge step in the criminal justice system to start treating crime victims like they’re crime victims instead of treating them like they’re suspects,” said Courtney, a representative for the program, during an interview on Community Spotlight. She noted that all artwork and photography featured in the room carries personal ties to Project Beloved’s mission.
An official ribbon-cutting ceremony for the soft interview room is expected to coincide with the program’s 40th anniversary on Oct. 1.
The anniversary marks a major milestone for the organization, which originated within the Marion Area Counseling Center before transitioning to the sheriff’s office in March 2020. Despite federal Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) funding cuts over the years and navigating the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic shortly after its structural move, the program continues to offer comprehensive services to crime victims across the county.
In addition to the new facility, the agency will host an annual ceremony for National Homicide Victim Remembrance Day on Monday, Sept. 28, at the Marion Memorial Garden located near the sheriff’s office.
The garden features a metal fountain adorned with personalized water droplets recognizing local homicide victims. Community members and families are invited to attend the event, where new names will be added to the monument.
Victim assistance services are available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. by calling 740-387-4401. For immediate, non-emergency assistance after hours, advocates can be reached through local dispatch. In emergencies, residents should call 911.