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What are legal remedies for domestic violence?

State legislatures and courts have been paying increasing attention to domestic violence.
Many states have elaborate laws designed to protect spouses from domestic violence by their
spouses or other family members. In many states, protection also is available for people in
dating relationships that have become abusive. A common remedy is for a court to issue a
"protective order" ordering the alleged abuser to stop abusing or harassing someone else. In
addition, the orders often will order the abuser to stay away from the spouse, the spouse's
home, or place of work. If the person continues to abuse his or her spouse (or another person
protected by the order), the abuser can be charged with a criminal violation of the order in
addition to being charged with other offenses, such as battery.


What kind of actions are considered domestic violence.


Domestic violence statutes in most states apply not only to physical attacks, but also to other
types of conduct. Some examples of conduct that could be considered domestic violence:
creating disturbance at a spouse's place or work, harassing telephone calls, surveillance and
threats against a spouse or family member (even though the threat may not have been carried
out).

Do protective orders actually protect the victim of domestic violence?

In many cases, yes. Studies have shown that issuing a protective order or arresting a person
who commits an act of domestic violence does reduce future incidents of domestic violence.
When perpetrators of domestic violence see that the police and court system will treat domestic
violence seriously, many persons who commit domestic violence may be deterred from future
violence. But orders of protection are not guarantees of protection or safety. For some
individuals with intense anger or rage, no court order will stop their violence, and a court order
might even add to the rage. Newspapers periodically carry stories of women murdered by their
husband or boyfriend despite numerous arrests and orders of protection. The legal system
cannot offer perfect protection, although it can reduce violence.


Where does one turn for help in cases of domestic violence?


In a crisis situation, a call to the police is a good place to start. Many people complain that
police do not take accusations of domestic violence seriously. That can be true in some
circumstances, but on the whole, police are treating domestic violence situations more seriously,
and police officers are receiving increased training on the subject. The local state's attorney or
district attorney also may be able to offer some help. An increasing number of hospitals, crisis
intervention programs, and social service agencies have programs to help victims of domestic
violence. Agencies offering help in cases of domestic violence might be found in the Yellow
Pages under "Domestic Violence Help," "Human Services Organizations," or "Crisis
Intervention."