Support

There are a few options available for domestic violence victims still with their abusers. One option is to contact the local police department and report the incident. Usually, when a person makes a criminal report, the police will listen to the victim and take a look at whatever evidence s/he has such as photos, medical reports, etc.  Often times, even if someone is not ready to go to the police after a physically abusive incident, it is often recommended that the victim take dated photographs to document the injuries and keep them in a safe place.  If ever the victim is ready to report the incident to the police or the court in the future, s/he would have some proof of the incident.  If the police believe that a crime has been committed, they can make an arrest or if they are unsure whether or not there is enough evidence to arrest, they can bring the case to the prosecutor in the county where the crime took place.  The prosecutor can then decide if there’s enough evidence to go forward with a criminal case. 

Another option is to file for a restraining order. A restraining order is a civil court order where a judge can order an abuser to stop the abuse or face legal consequences. As I mentioned above, I am not a lawyer so I cannot give you specific legal advice about moving forward with a restraining order. However, the following link has more information about acquiring a restraining order: LINK

If a victim of domestic violence chooses to move forward with a restraining order, it may be helpful to have a lawyer who can assist with the process. Whether or not to get a lawyer is a choice that each person has to make. A lawyer would be familiar with the court rules, and the rules of evidence, which determine what can and cannot be said or used in court to prove his/her case. Also, if the abuser has a lawyer, it is often intimidating for someone to try to argue against a lawyer on his/her own and she may not know how to argue against the points that the lawyer is making regarding issues such as hearsay, for example (which comes under a “rule of evidence”). However, it’s often not necessarily better to have just “any” lawyer, unless the lawyer is familiar with and sensitive to issues of domestic violence.  The following page provides information about choosing and working with a lawyer: http://www.womenslaw.org/laws_state_type.php?id=13284&state_code=PG

The following link lists low-cost and affordable attorneys who may be of service: LINK

Another option for victims of domestic violence may be leaving their abuser.  However, leaving abusers can be a very scary prospect for some victims.  There are resources for victims who choose to leave their abusers that can provide help and support during this process.  The following page contact information for programs that can help provide shelter, support, and assistance to victims of domestic violence: LINK

Victims can also call the following domestic violence hotlines for help and support as well:

National Domestic Violence Hotline - 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or TTY 1-800-787-3224

National Sexual Assault Hotline - (800) 656-HOPE.

Additionally, the following page provides tips and advice for staying safe when leaving an abuser: http://www.womenslaw.org /laws_state_type.php?id=13422&state_code=PG Some victims may choose to stay with their abuser for some period of time before they are ready to leave.  For victims who choose to stay with their abusers, the following page provides advice on how to stay safe in case of future episodes of violence: http://www.womenslaw.org/laws_state_type.php?id=13416&state_code=PG