Dom Childrn&Alt (Georgia)

ome Georgia Crime Victims & Domestic Violence

. TEACH THEM NOT TO GET IN THE MIDDLE OF A FIGHT, even if they want to help.

. TEACH THEM HOW TO GET TO SAFETY, to call 911, to give your address and phone number to the police.

. TELL THEM TO STAY OUT OF THE KITCHEN.

. GIVE THE PRINCIPAL AT THE SCHOOL OR DAY CARE CENTER A COPY OF YOUR COURT ORDER, tell them not to release your children to anyone without talking to you first; use a password so they can be sure it is you on the phone. Give them a photo of the abuser.

. MAKE SURE THE SCHOOL KNOWS NOT TO GIVE YOUR ADDRESS OR PHONE NUMBER TO ANYONE.

Using The Law To Help You

GA Domestic Violence Bench Book 15th Edition (2022) PDF Download
Written for Georgia judges, it not only gives the law, but tells you the kind of things judges look for to decide if a protective order is needed or what action should be taken. Also has resources for people in trouble.

How To Find Out About Your State's Domestic Violence Laws
Has places to call that will furnish you with this information and other tips on where to look.

Federal Laws That Protect Battered Women

What Is An Order For Protection
Basic information about Orders of Protection for both the defendant/respondent and the victim/petitioner.

Anti-Stalking Laws & Protection

Protection Or Restraining Orders

A. Ask your local domestic violence program who can help you get a civil protection order and who can help you with criminal prosecution.

B. Ask for help in finding a lawyer.

In Most Places, The Judge Can:

. ORDER THE ABUSER TO STAY AWAY from you or your children.

. ORDER THE ABUSER TO LEAVE YOUR HOME.

. GIVE YOU TEMPORARY CUSTODY of your children and order the abuser to pay you temporary child support.

. ORDER THE POLICE TO COME TO YOUR HOME while the abuser picks up personal belongings.

. GIVE YOU POSSESSION OF THE CAR, furniture and other belongings.

. ORDER THE ABUSER TO GO TO A BATTERERS INTERVENTION PROGRAM.

. ORDER THE ABUSER NOT TO CALL YOU AT WORK.

. ORDER THE ABUSER TO GIVE ALL GUNS TO THE POLICE.

If you are worried about any of the following, make sure you:

A. SHOW THE JUDGE ANY PICTURES of your injuries.

B. TELL THE JUDGE YOU DO NOT FEEL SAFE if the abuser comes to your home to pick up the children to visit with them.

C. ASK THE JUDGE TO ORDER THE ABUSER TO PICK UP AND RETURN THE CHILDREN AT THE POLICE STATION OR SOME OTHER SAFE PLACE.

D. Ask that any VISITS THE ABUSER IS PERMITTED ARE AT VERY SPECIFIC TIMES so the police will know by reading the court order that the abuser is there at the wrong time.

E. TELL THE JUDGE IF THE ABUSER HAS HARMED OR THREATENED the children; ask that visits be supervised; think about who could do that for you.

F. GET A CERTIFIED COPY of the court order.

G. KEEP THE COURT ORDER WITH YOU AT ALL TIMES.

Criminal Matters

How To Find Out About Your States Domestic Violence Laws
Has places to call that will furnish you with this information and other tips on where to look.

Criminal Justice Divisions/ Attorney General's (All 50 States)

Anti-Stalking Laws & Protection

What To Do In Criminal Proceedings

SHOW the prosecutor your COURT ORDERS.
TELL THE PROSECUTOR THE NAMES OF ANYONE WHO IS HELPING YOU (a victim advocate or lawyer).
Tell the prosecutor about ANY WITNESS to injuries or abuse. (Witnesses can include neighbors who heard the incident but did not see it).

ASK THE PROSECUTOR TO NOTIFY YOU AHEAD OF TIME IF THE ABUSER IS GETTING OUT OF JAIL.

Protecting Yourself At The Court House

A. SIT AS FAR AWAY FROM THE ABUSER as you can; you don't have to look or talk to the abuser; you don't have to talk to the abuser's family or friends if they are there.

B. BRING A FRIEND OR RELATIVE with you to wait until your case is heard.

C. TELL A BAILIFF OR SHERIFF THAT YOU ARE AFRAID of the abuser and ask him/her to look out for you.

D. Make sure you HAVE YOUR COURT ORDER BEFORE YOU LEAVE.

E. Ask the judge to KEEP THE ABUSER THERE for a while when court is over. Leave quickly.

F. If you think the abuser is following you when you leave, immediately call the police.

G. IF YOU HAVE TO TRAVEL TO ANOTHER STATE FOR WORK OR TO ESCAPE THE ABUSER, TAKE YOUR PROTECTION ORDER WITH YOU, IT IS VALID EVERYWHERE.

Help In Metro Atlanta

24 Hour Hotlines

First Call For Help (United Way Help Line)(404) 614-1000
This comprehensive referral service is open 24 hours a day and can direct you to over 2000 help agencies in The Atlanta Metro Area.

Share House Family Violence Crisis Center
Provides services and shelter for battered and homeless women and is located in Douglas County, Georgia with a satellite office in Paulding County. They have a 30 bed shelter available with 24 hour intake for battered and homeless women and children, a 24 hour crisis line, and five transitional housing for up to ten women and their children.

Partnership Against Domestic Violence (404) 873-1766

National Domestic Violence Hotline (800) 799-7233 TDD: (800) 787-3224
Helps victim of domestic violence and their families. They discuss options, safety planning, give legal help, and provide counseling and referrals. Non-English speaking people should wait on the line till an operator identifies the language and connects them to a translator.

AT&T Georgia Relay Center (770) 729-5000
Relays conversation for TTY/TTD users.

AT&T Language Link (800) 528-5888
Provides interpreters in 100 languages.

Women's Resource Center 24 hour Domestic Violence Crisis Hotline at (404) 688-9436
Also has a walk-in legal clinic from 6-9 p.m. every Tuesday where women can get 30 minutes of free legal advice. (404-370-7670). Dial ext 105 to leave a message with an attorney. You can speak to helpful non-attorneys between 9-5, Mon-Fri.

Dekalb Rape Crisis Center (404) 377-1428
Whether the rape happened now or years ago they will guide you step by step as to what you can do. Call them whether or not you live in Dekalb. For Spanish, call (404) 851-7764

Grady Rape Crisis Center (404) 616-4861

Governor's Victim Assistance Help Line (800) 338-6745 Available community-based victim service programs

Fulton County Emergency Mental Health (404) 730-1600

Cherokee Family Violence Center (770) 479-1703

Task Force For The Homeless (800) 448-0636

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Regular Hour Hotlines

First Call For Help (United Way Help Line)(404) 614-1000
This comprehensive referral service is open 24 hours a day and can direct you to over 2000 help agencies in The Atlanta Metro Area.

Georgia Coalition On Family Violence (770) 894-0085

Domestic Crisis Intervention Center (404) 658-6074

YWCA-Cobb County Woman's Program (770) 427-3390

Women's Crisis Center (770) 969-6423
They provide emergency shelter and can help with emergency food, household goods and legal advocacy.

Georgia Advocate For Battered Women & Children (404) 524-3847 (800) 643-1212

Fulton County Victim's Assistance Domestic Violence Program (404) 730-6883
Handles civil responses to domestic violence, crises intervention, individual and family counseling, legal advocacy, information and assistance on criminal and civil temporary protective orders and teaches about anti-stalking laws.

Georgia Council On Child Abuse (800) 532-3208

Metro Atlanta Victim Witness Assistance Program (404)865-8127 Helps victims and witnesses of crime cope with problems of personal injury, property loss and psychological trauma.