TAMPA, Fla. — Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody announced on Thursday the launch of a new initiative aimed at protecting survivors of domestic violence.
"Project Protect" is a pilot project that will first be launched in Hillsborough and Martin counties, Moody said. Signs will be posted in the county clerk's offices with employees trained on connecting those seeking injunctions for safety with victim advocates.
Once connected with advocates at the sheriff's offices in the project counties, a person could receive a free doorbell camera and service.
"'Project Protect' is designed to help make the lives of survivors of domestic violence, human trafficking, stalking, repeat violence, sexual assault...a little safer, a little more secure after they take that brave step of reporting the crime and getting help," Moody said.
One domestic violence survivor believes having this could have prevented her situation.
"I filed two protective orders, the first one been thrown out. There was no proof," Alisa Mathewson stated. "The second looked like it was going to be thrown out because of no proof."
Mathewson explained she was terrorized by her ex-husband in 2016.
"My ex-husband broke into my house in the middle of the night," she said. "He kidnapped me, he raped me four times, he tried to murder me twice, he suffocated me, strangled me."
Mathewson said she tried getting protective orders from the sheriff's office before that happened, but they claimed she didn't have enough evidence.
"I called the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office on several occasions and it was just a he said, she said," Mathewson said.
With having a ring camera supplied by "Project Protect," Mathewson believes her situation could have been prevented.
"That would have been a deterrent that my ex-husband would have known, hey, every interaction is being recorded," Mathewson said.
She also believes it would have given her the evidence to get the right protection from law enforcement.
"The stalking … to have the evidence for law enforcement and judges to show this man is terrorizing me," Mathewson said.
Moody said the program, with the help of sheriff's offices and clerks across the state, will eventually be statewide.
"So this program, 'Project Protect,' will offer another layer of security, another sense of protection and not only give them peace of mind, they can document who is coming to their front door. Heaven forbid there is ever a violation of an injunction," Moody said in part.
She added that the program will wipe out any financial hurdles that victims may have to be able to obtain the doorbell camera equipment and service.