Published: Feb. 26, 2024 at 6:17 PM CST
By: Paige Stockton
FRIONA, Texas (KFDA) - A first for the Panhandle, the City of Friona is implementing a ‘soft interview room’ for survivors of sexual assault.
“Victims sitting across a table from someone in law enforcement or backed into a corner where it’s just plain and cold and uncomfortable, so let’s take these spaces and make them warm and inviting and comfortable,” said Tracy Matheson, president and founder of Project Beloved.
Soft interview rooms are being installed across the country and this is a first for the Texas Panhandle.
“We are now just hearing about it and unfortunately, I feel like we are behind the curve in making sure that we do our victims justice investigating these cases, but nonetheless we’re still moving forward with it,” said Lee Davila, city manager.
With comfortable chairs, artwork, essential oils and a calming environment, these rooms are designed to help victims be more comfortable while sharing details of their trauma.
“When someone comes to this place, they don’t want to be, to talk to someone they don’t want to talk to, about a story that they don’t want to tell. If they can see that space and go, ‘Oh wait, maybe I can sit in this space and maybe it will be okay,’” said Matheson.
Friona is in the process of finishing the design of the room and should be up and running soon for the community.
For more about Project Beloved and their mission, click here.
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