Crisis Center North Partners with Nexion Solution to Protect Domestic Abuse Victims

Crisis Center North (CCN), a nonprofit serving the greater Pittsburgh area, is set to launch a new, discreet safety initiative in collaboration with Milwaukee-based tech company Nexion Solutions. The partnership aims to provide high-risk domestic violence victims with a stand-alone emergency response device called the NightWatch, offering a new layer of security for those most at risk.

Grace Coleman and Ari, canine advocate

The collaboration, which will begin circulating the devices in September, is a landmark project. Grace Coleman, President and CEO of CCN, explained that the collaboration is “the largest nonprofit site in the country that is doing this work with Nexion.” It’s also the first time this kind of project will be implemented with formal research wrapped around it.

“We’ll be collaborating with area police departments to ensure we’re bringing everybody on board,” Coleman said. The hope is that by bringing in other community organizations, the project will be strengthened.

A Discrete Solution for a High-Risk Population

Liz Kohler

Nexion Solutions was founded in 2021 by CEO Liz Kohler to provide a discreet safety solution for people at high risk of violence. Kohler said the idea is similar to other safety technologies like OnStar or ADT, but it is specifically designed to address the unique needs of those who face violence.

The device, called NightWatch, is designed to be discreet and not look like what it is. “We do try to keep very much what the device looks like and the specifics of how it works on the down low,” Kohler said. This is a deliberate strategy to prevent abusers from recognizing the device’s true purpose.

The company’s platform, which operates at the intersection of public safety and victim services, was recognized with a CES Innovation Award for its NightWatch solution in the category of Human Security for All.

The device is provided free of charge by the nonprofit, so there’s no bill to raise questions from an abuser.

How the NightWatch Device Works

The NightWatch is a two-way communication device that allows users to simultaneously contact an emergency operator and collect audio evidence. It is a stand-alone solution, so it doesn’t need to be tethered to a smartphone to work, said Kohler. When activated, a call goes to Nexion’s emergency operators, who listen to the situation as its unfolding.

“We want the person to be able to talk to our operators and tell them what’s going on if they need to or can,” Kohler said. “We also enable that two-way communication so we can collect audio from that event that can then be used as evidence to augment a survivor’s story in court if necessary.”

The device is also GPS-enabled and can provide a precise location for the user. Coleman recounted a story of a woman who was hiding in the bushes to escape her abuser. “They could see her precise location and sent a team to extract her safely,” she said. The device can also track vital signs like heart rate, a feature that doubles as part of the device’s disguise to mask its true purpose. It’s even waterproof, so it can be worn safely at all times.

The device is pre-loaded with specific information about the person wearing it, which helps first responders and law enforcement gain quick access to critical details when they respond to a scene. The NightWatch is built on Samsung Knox technology, which makes it essentially unhackable.

Collaboration Born from Shared Vision

The idea for the collaboration originated at a CCN board meeting when board member Mark Roth presented a clip about Nexion Solutions. Coleman and Roth decided to reach out to Kohler, and they began talking about the partnership last summer.

Coleman said that after 26 years of working on domestic violence projects, she’s seen how the first thing to go in an attack is often the victim’s cell phone. The NightWatch device solves this problem by being a separate, discreet tool.

The need for such a resource is particularly critical in the Pittsburgh region. According to data from the crisis center, 2,473 new criminal filings for intimate partner violence-related charges happened in the last 12 months, making up 11 percent of all new criminal filings. Intimate partner violence also was identified as a risk factor in 43% of new child welfare cases in 2023, reflecting an increase from 2019 data.

Statistics on domestic violence and intimate partner violence are often based on reported cases, which likely underestimate the true prevalence of these issues due to underreporting.

CCN’s legal advocates work with local police and provide 24-hour services. They screen victims, and if a person is considered high-risk, they become eligible for one of the devices.

“There’s a myriad of resources we have to offer at our center, and this will be one of them that stays with them and on them,” Coleman said. “Domestic violence thrives in isolation. With this device, the victim is never alone. All they have to do is activate the device, and someone is going to be there for them.”

Funding and Future Plans

Nexion Solutions helped CCN identify some angel investors to help fund the initial batch of devices. “It can take over a year to find funding for ideas like this, and we were fortunate that Nexion brought some solutions to the table,” Coleman said. The organization hopes to fund 50 to 60 devices in the first round. While they still need to raise another $40,000 to fully fund the project, they plan to launch for now with the funding they have in place.

The partnership is also working with faculty at Penn State to evaluate the device’s effectiveness and find ways to improve the product and collaboration.

“One of the biggest mistakes an organization can make is to do something like this and just see what happens,” Coleman said, explaining the importance of having Penn State research faculty feedback.

As the CCN works to empower victims, the community can show its support by participating in the PAWS for Empowerment Walk from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sunday, October 26, at the South Ridge Harmar Shelter in North Park. Register for the event on the website at www.crisiscenternorth.org.