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Georgia Crime Victims & Domestic Violence
It
is one person's use of emotional, physical and/or sexual violence or threat of
violence to get and keep control of an intimate partner.
It affects people from all walks of life, regardless of age, race,
religious beliefs, educational background, income or sexual preference.
In
most domestic violence situations there are three phases. First there is a tension
Building Phase where there is high tension, stress, anger , blaming and
arguing between the victim and abuser. The
explosion occurs during the Battering
Phase, when the actual violence occurs.
The last part of the cycle is the Honeymoon
Phase, where the abuser may deny, minimize, or excuse his actions by
apologizing, promising that it will never happen again, and/or buying gifts.
These techniques are used by abusers to keep their victims confused and
under their control.
You
can talk with a friend, neighbor or relative.
You can call a battered women's shelter or program near you.
Most offer telephone counseling, support groups, temporary shelter,
legal information and children's programs.
You
can go to the hospital or doctor to check your injuries. Most hospitals have a social worker on staff who may be able
to help you.
You
can call the police. Arresting an
abuser significantly reduces the chances he will repeat the offense.
If an arrest is made, you should contact the Victim Services Division
of the Attorney General's Office for more information.
Also, you should contact the jail and ask then to notify you when the
abuser is released.
The
judge may order the offender to have either "No Contact" or "No
Violent Contact" with you as a condition of release on bond.
You may get a copy of the bond conditions from the magistrate judge.
If the offender violates the conditions set by the judge, call the DA's
office and 911.
Using
The Law To Help You (Consumer-SOS)
Takes you to the subsection "Using The Law To Help You"
The National
Victims Notification Network
This service allows crime victims to obtain timely and reliable information
about criminal cases and the custody status of offenders 24 hours a day. Victims
and other concerned citizens can also register to be notified by phone, email or
TTY device when an offender's custody status changes. Users can also register
through their participating state or county toll-free number.
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.
My Ex Is Tracking My Location: How Can I Prevent This? (Consumer-SOS)
Checklist on what to do to keep your location a secret.
Domestic Violence Victims-How To
Change Your Social Security #
Helping Someone Through Domestic Violence
(Tips & Links)
Back To Top
If
an argument seems unavoidable, try to have it in a room or area where you have
access to an exit. If you are
being threatened or attacked:
STAY AWAY FROM THE KITCHEN (the abuser can find weapons, like knives
there). Keep far from wherever guns are kept.
STAY AWAY FROM BATHROOMS, closets or small spaces
where
the abuser can trap you.
GET TO A ROOM WITH A DOOR or window to escape.
CALL 911 (or your local emergency
number) right away for help; get the dispatcher's name.
Think of a
neighbor or friend your can run to for help.
If the police come, tell them what
happened and get the officers' names and badge numbers.
GET MEDICAL HELP if you are hurt.
TAKE PICTURES of bruises or
injuries.
CALL A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PROGRAM OR SHELTER; ask them to help
you make
a safety plan.
For More See Making A Safety Plan
Safety When Preparing To Leave
A. Open
a savings account or credit card in your own name to begin establishing your
independence. Think of other ways
in which you can increase your independence.
B. Get
your own post office box. You can
privately
receive checks and letters to begin your own
Independence.
C. Leave money, an extra set of keys, copies of important
documents, extra
medicine and clothes with someone you
trust so you can leave quickly.
D. Determine who would be able to let you stay with them or
lend you
money.
E. Keep
the shelter or hotline phone number close at hand and keep some change or a
calling card on you at all times for emergency phone calls.
F. REMEMBER-LEAVING YOUR BATTERER IS THE MOST DANGEROUS TIME.
Review your safety plan as often as possible in order to plan the
safest way to leave your batterer.
For More See Making A Safety Plan
Back To Top
Learn where to
get help; MEMORIZE EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBERS.
KEEP A PHONE in a room you can
lock from the inside; if you can, get a cellular phone that you keep with you
at all times.
If the abuser has moved out,
CHANGE THE LOCKS ON YOUR DOOR; get locks on the windows.
PLAN AN ESCAPE ROUTE out of your
home; teach it to your children.
ASK YOUR NEIGHBORS and landlord to call the police if they see the
abuser at or near your home; make a signal for them to call the police, for
example, if the phone rings twice, a shade is pulled down or a light is on.
PACK A BAG with important things
you'd need if you had to leave quickly; put it in a safe place, or give it to
a friend or relative you trust. Include
cash, car keys and important information such as: court papers, passport or
birth certificates, medical records and medicines, immigration papers. (See
Checklist-What You need To Take When
You Leave)
GET AN UNLISTED PHONE NUMBER.
BLOCK CALLER ID.
TAKE A GOOD SELF DEFENSE COURSE.
How An Abuser Can Find out About Your Internet Activities
For More See Making A Safety Plan
Checklist-What You need To Take When You Leave
IDENTIFICATION
Driver's
license
Children's
birth certificates
Your
birth certificate
Social
Security Card
Welfare
identification
FINANCIAL
Money
and/or credit cards
Bank
books
Check
books
LEGAL
PAPERS
YOUR
RESTRAINING ORDER
Lease,
rental agreement, house deed
Car
registration + insurance papers
Health
+ life insurance papers
Medical
records for you and your children
School
records
Work
permits/Green card/VISA
Passport
Divorce
papers
Custody
papers
OTHER
HOUSE
AND CAR KEYS
Medications
Small
sellable objects
Jewelry
Address
book
Phone
card
Pictures
of you, children + your abuser
Children's
small toys
Toiletries/diapers
Change
of clothes for you and your kids
For More See Making A Safety Plan
Protecting Yourself While In Public
.
Change your regular travel
habits.
.
Try to get rides with different
people.
.
Shop and bank in a different
place.
.
Cancel any bank accounts or
credit cards you shared; open up new accounts at a different bank.
.
Keep your court order and emergency numbers with you at all times.
.
Keep a cell phone and program it to 911 (or other emergency number).
For More See Making A Safety Plan
Protecting Yourself While At Work
A. Decide
who at work you will inform of your situation.
This should include office or building security and your supervisor if
appropriate. If possible, provide
a picture of your batterer.
B. Keep
a copy of your court order at work.
C. Arrange
to have an answering machine, caller ID, or a trusted friend or relative
screen your calls if possible. Save
any voice mail or e-mail messages from your batterer.
D. Don't
go to lunch alone.
E. Devise
a safety plan for when you leave the job.
Have someone escort you to your car, bus, or train and wait with you
until you are safely on your way. Use
a variety of routes to go home by if possible.
Think about what you would do if something happened while going home
(i.e. in your car, on the bus, etc.).
For More See Making A Safety Plan