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How To Make Your Children Safer

.    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.  

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Using The Law To Help You

Legal Resources for Battered Immigrant Women (Texas) 

Legal Choices for Victims of Family Violence (Texas)
Protecting yourself, the law, finding a lawyer, counseling services and the rights of abused people who are not U.S. citizens.

Women's Advocacy Project (Texas) 
Legal help for abused women, women with breast cancer and women who have a variety of legal concerns relating to domestic violence or family law issues.

Protective Order Forms For Texas
Down load forms or fill them out on line.

Pro Se Protective Order Packet For Texas (MS Word)
Provided by the Women's Advocacy Project, Inc.

Taking the First Step - Protective Orders: A Way of Fighting Back (Texas)

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

Summary Of Victims Rights Throughout The US
Charts and summaries in all states relating to the
Rights for Crime Victims, Right to Notice, Right to Protection 
Right to Confer with Prosecutor, Prompt Return of Property,
Payment for Forensic Exams, HIV Testing of Sex Offenders 
Right to Be Heard, Right to Attend the Trial, Right to Restitution, The Right to Privacy, and Victims' Rights at Juvenile Level. 

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.

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Criminal Matters

Procedure From Arrest To Imprisonment (Texas)
Victim services chart showing each step of the investigatory process.

Domestic Violence: A Personal Safety Plan (Texas)
Also has Texas Help Agencies.

Legal Resources for Battered Immigrant Women (Texas) 

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

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

Anti-Stalking Laws & Protection

What To Do In Criminal Proceedings

1.      SHOW the prosecutor your COURT ORDERS.  
    
   

2.      TELL THE PROSECUTOR THE NAMES OF ANYONE WHO IS HELPING YOU (a victim advocate or lawyer).  
   
   

3.      Tell the prosecutor about ANY WITNESS to injuries or abuse.  (Witnesses can include neighbors who heard the incident but did not see it).  
   
   

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

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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. 

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