Pima County Superior Court recently received an upgrade to its old respite room, giving crime victims a more relaxing place to go during times of stress.
βThe respite room here in the superior court is for victims and survivors who are attending court hearings, trials and going through the criminal justice system,β said Vanessa Helms, the newly appointed director of the Pima County Attorneyβs Office Victim Services Division. βItβs a place for them to talk in private with an advocate, or whoever, so they donβt have to meet in the hallway and theyβre not forced to go outside.β
The former respite room didnβt have βa very relaxing feel,β she said.
The project to remodel the room started thanks to a survivor who spent a year using the respite room himself.
βIt was an absolutely fine room before, but it was just a little bit dated and had random furniture stuffed in there,β Helms said. βPeople didnβt mind, but the survivor had an eye for design.β
He also had some connections with Sam Levitz and everything from then on fell into place, according to Helms.
Because the county attorneyβs office isnβt able to accept donations, Homicide Survivors, Inc., a nonprofit that helps families of murder victims and works closely with Victim Services, was able to accept the donation.
β(Homicide Survivors) worked with the county attorneyβs office to collaborate with the β¦ facilities department to get access to renovate the room,β Helms said.
Krisanne LoGalbo, a superior court spokeswoman, said she was impressed with the changes made, noting the atmosphere of the room had improved.
Helms recalled that the process seemed almost impossible in the beginning.
βI wish I could show you a before,β she said. βAt first we were kind of like, βoh this isnβt going to happen,β but then the doors just opened and everybody was so accommodating.β
Sam Levitz gave a set of furniture from one of its showrooms, which consisted of chairs, tables and couches with a blue-green and white theme, and some of their partnered contractors donated the art, consisting of desert flora.
Helms attributed the successful remodel to the collaboration between Homicide Survivors and the county attorneyβs office.
βItβs just a room, so it doesnβt seem like a big deal,β she said. βBut when people are utilizing the room, theyβre going through what is likely the most traumatizing experience in their life.β
She added that color, texture and scent make a difference, even if itβs subconscious, and they can be triggers for people who are experiencing trauma.
βWe want to be able to provide some elements of peace and calm in what otherwise is a very traumatic, highly emotional and stressful situation,β she said. βThis is why itβs so important to have the room match that. Itβs like a piece of home in this foreign environment that is the courthouse, which can be sterile and stressful.β
