DOMESTIC VIOLENCE VICTIMS' BILL OF RIGHTS


Get to a Safe Place Request that the investigating officer or assistant district attorney assist in providing safety to you and your family

The officer can help you make arrangements to go to a domestic violence program, a family member's or a friend's home, or a similar place of safety

. Request that the officer assist you in retrieving any necessary personal belongings from your home, such as clothing or medications.

Request that the officer assist in obtaining any necessary medical treatment for you and your children.

Request a copy of any incident reports at no cost from the law enforcement agency

.

The Family Protection and Domestic Violence
Intervention Act of 1994 allows victims of domestic violence
to receive assistance from their local law enforcement agencies
and courts to ensure their safety.


Seek Protection for You and Your Children

If you are married to, divorced from, related to, or have a child
with the person who committed the violent act against you,
you may proceed in either Family Court or Criminal Court
. If you are neither married nor related to and have no children
with the person who hurt you, you will need to proceed to Criminal Court
. The main difference between the two courts is that in Criminal Court,
the District Attorney prosecutes the offender, while in Family Court,
you and your lawyer file petitions against the abuser.

You may:

File a petition in Family Court

Request an order of protection from conduct constituting a family offense, including an order for defendant to stay away from you and your children.

Seek payment of temporary child support

Seek temporary custody of any children

Go to Criminal Court to obtain an order of protection if the Family Court is not in session

If You Feel You Are In An Abusive Relationship

: Take it seriously. If you are in immediate danger, call the police.

Talk to someone about it, such as a parent, sibling, friend, clergy or counselor. You are not alone

. Get yourself a safety plan; a domestic violence advocate can help you with this.

Call for help to assist you with restraining orders, safety planning, education, support and other services you may need

. If you have been unfairly denied access to a domestic violence shelter, please contact the Attorney General's Civil Rights Bureau at 212-416-8250.

GET HELP


If you are a victim of abuse, remember that you are not alone, you are not to blame and you do not deserve to be abused