Diane Lance

Diane Lance has spent the majority of her career focusing on family and interpersonal violence. She attended law school at the University of San Diego, and went on to be hired by the Nashville District Attorney’s Office, leading their specialized Domestic Violence and Child Sex Abuse Units. In 2008, Diane was hired as Special Counsel to then Mayor Karl Dean. In that role, she led the citywide Domestic Violence Safety and Accountability Assessment, identifying ways law enforcement and the judicial system could improve victim safety and offender accountability. In 2015, Diane assisted in the creation of a new Metro Government Department, the Office of Family Safety, where she serves as the Department Head for Mayor John Cooper. In this role, Diane and her team work to improve the coordination of services provided to domestic violence, child abuse, trafficking, and sexual assault victims. In addition, Diane oversees the city’s two Family Justice Centers, the court-based Jean Crowe Advocacy Center and the community based Family Safety Center. Both Centers have received national recognition and are considered models for other cities.