Calcasieu Parish District Attorney Stephen Dwight joined local law enforcement and officials with several agencies Tuesday to announce the creation of the Special Victims Unit within the district attorney’s office.

Dwight said a special victims unit that brings various agencies together is needed because domestic violence and sex crime cases have risen steadily within the parish over the last decade. That, along with the rise in domestic violence calls during the COVID-19 pandemic, demonstrates why victims of these crimes require special attention and care, he said.

“These are the cases that really tug at your heart and emotions and keep you up at night,” he said. “That’s why they need this special attention.”

The priority with the SVU office, Dwight said, will be to contact victims early on and help them get through the legal process.

Lake Charles Police Chief Shawn Caldwell and Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Stitch Guillory spoke of the impact upon victims of these crimes. Guillory said these types of crimes occur all too often, with some victims being unaware of available resources like changing their locks or providing a safe house.

“Just know you’re not going through it alone,” he said. “We stand behind you, and we want to help you through the process. By centralizing this thing through the D.A.’s office, we’ll be able to better inform our victims where those assets are.”

Kathy Williams is the executive director at Oasis is a Safe Haven, the only Lake Charles-based nonprofit shelter for victims of domestic violence and sexual abuse. She said the SVU and the partnerships between various agencies is necessary because women are killed in Louisiana at twice the national average.

David Duplechian with the Family and Youth Counseling Agency said the unit will address the public scrutiny victims of domestic abuse and sex crimes often face.

“This is just another step toward making sure those victims are taken care of,” he said.

Tammy Vincent with the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) Program at Lake Charles Memorial Hospital said sex crimes in the community have increased annually, with 45 percent of victims being under the age of 18.

“I believe a community that’s willing to raise the standard of care with the special team of experience, consistency, collaboration and compassion for these victims will see better outcomes,” she said.

Assistant District Attorney Hope Buford will lead the SVU as its section chief. The team will also include two assistant district attorneys, one trial assistant team leader, two trial assistants and two victim assistance coordinators.

Dwight said he formerly sat on the Oasis board and heard about various cases.

“It was gut wrenching,” he said. “Now, I’m sitting on this side of the table and I see a lot more of it. It’s something that I want to change.”

Dwight said there is no additional funding for the special victims unit.