LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- There's a 24/7 resource for victims of domestic violence in Louisville.

The Domestic Violence Intake Center is located inside the Hall of Justice. The agency helps survivors and many have said it saves lives.

After years of abuse, Sam decided she couldn't take it anymore.

"I fled back to Louisville, and I had my own place here," she said.

She filed for divorce and started a new life.

"I actually had to leave when he went out of town, and he had to go out of town on business," Sam said.

But that new life was nearly taken away when her estranged husband showed up at the front door.

"He was able to find me, and then when he found me, that's when he began to strangle me," Sam said.

WDRB is hiding her identity because, even after 15 years, she lives in fear. But she is sharing her story to raise awareness and help others.

"I had to come here for a protection order," Sam said. "At that time, I didn't know anything about the process."

In the middle of the night, Sam found help inside the Hall of Justice at the newly opened Domestic Violence Intake Center.

"When I came here in the middle of the night, the supervisor at the time was extremely helpful and she guided me through the process," she said.

In 2009, the intake center was created by consolidating locations and expanding services to make it easier for survivors to get help.

"Prior to 2009 depending on the day of the week, time of the day, you had one of three offices to go to in two different buildings," Circuit Court Clerk David Nicholson said.

Nicholson said since opening the center there's been 80.754 petitions which is individuals who have walked through the doors seeking protection from the courts.

"Domestic intimate partner violence is incredibly prevalent and Kentucky has the second highest rate in the country," said Elizabeth Martin, with the Center for Women and Families.

Martin said it can also be deadly.

"One is too high," Martin said. "Domestic intimate partner violence deaths do not have to happen if we will all speak up."

In August, 37-year-old Erica Riley and her mother were shot and killed outside the Hardin County Courthouse by her estranged boyfriend and earlier this month in Shelby County, 40-year-old Jessica Hager was shot and killed by a family member's ex-boyfriend.

Data shows that Kentucky has one of the highest rates of domestic violence in the country. Statistics show that 45% of women in Kentucky are likely to have been in abusive relationships and Indiana is at 43%.

"We know that domestic violence happens in every zip code in this community, 24 hours a day, every day, and that's reason this center never closes," Nicholson said.

Sam said once she came to the intake center, a game plan was in place in less than an hour.

"I had never seen a process that will only take 30 minutes for me to get protection that will actually save my life," Sam said.

The intake center also helped Sam see herself as a survivor and not victim.

"Because I am still here," she said.

If you want help escaping an abusive relationship, call the Center for Women and Families 24/7 hotline at 844-237-2331. Their website also helps with information on prevention, education and navigating protective orders in the courts. Click here. 

There are additional resources across the country. If you or someone you know is a victim of domestic violence and needs assistance, please reach out to the National Domestic Violence Hotline by calling 800-799-SAFE or clicking here.

There is also a 24-hour Rape Crisis Line in Kentucky at 800-656-HOPE (4673) to connect with a sexual assault service provider near you or contact your local Kentucky State Police Post to connect with a victim advocate.

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