By Adam Dodson | The Selma Times-Journal

Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall continued his statewide visitations of domestic violence organizations by coming to Selma on Wednesday to extend an olive branch to SABRA Sanctuary.

In addition to visiting shelters, Marshall has spent time speaking at vigils set up for victims during some of the stops.

The visit comes during National Crime Victim’s Rights Week and Child Abuse Prevention Month, two subjects which Marshall takes seriously. For Marshall and his team, SABRA caught their eye as a place deserving their attention.

SABRA Sanctuary provides domestic violence support and protection for female, male and child victims. This includes a safe house which provides victims with shelter that can comfortably accommodate all of their needs.

Aware of the effectiveness of SABRA, Marshall decided to make it one of his places of interest during his outreach efforts across Alabama.

“If you think about it, this place is pulled together by string, tape and love. We wanted to show we are here to help,” Marshall said. “What our non-profits do to fill what is a significant need, it’s remarkable. It’s a testimony to people who are called, who are passionate and out there changing lives.”

The visit included a full tour of the safe house that is offered to the victims.

The house includes multiple bedrooms with enough bedding for families with children, food donated from the local food bank, a full kitchen, washers, dryers and desks. Renee Callen, SABRA Sanctuary director, calls the safe house a “home away from home.”

Furthermore, the home is sealed to prevent intruders from getting in or children from getting out. Privacy is a key component for Sabra, and they make sure that is guaranteed for their residents. For protection of the victims, the address, general location and appearance of the building will remain anonymous. All individuals who tour the building have to sign a confidentiality form before moving forward with the visit.

For Callen, she and her SABRA team are thankful to have a public servant such as Marshall taking a keen interest in their work.

“I am so thankful that someone has taken an interest in our agency,” Callen said. “The attention is quite the benefit for us. Hopefully we can also help our community realize the importance of this agency as well.”

While the two parties took time to discuss possible funding, much of their focus was also directed toward how other entities, such as law enforcement, could receive education to increase their aptitude of domestic violence situations.

Marshall agreed with members of SABRA that he would like to help increase the amount of education and training law enforcement officers in the state receive.

Callen and Marshall both also discussed one of the main issues surrounding domestic violence: victim awareness.

Marshall, who has decades of legal experience, understands the importance of victims knowing their options.

“As a prosecutor for 20 years, dealing with domestic violence scenarios in the past, we have to do a good job from our end in making sure that victims understand that there are resources available,” Marshall said.

Callen, who deals with the victims on an everyday basis, reiterated Marshall’s point that many victims are not aware of the severity of the issue.

“There are young girls, and many of them do not know they are abused,” Callen said. “And the abuse can happen in many different ways. People feel defenseless. We need help training people.”

According to Marshall and his team, the stop in Selma was followed up with another visit at another shelter later the same day. Other cities he has stopped along the way include Dothan, Florence, Birmingham and others.