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Domestic Violence

Seeking Protection from Domestic Violence

01/11/2007

Question:

Where do most victims go to seek protection?

Answer:

People who experience domestic violence seek protection in a number of ways and places. Some may seek residential shelter with friends, family, or designated domestic violence shelters in order to protect themselves (and their children and pets) from immediate dangerous situations involving an abuser. 

Others may seek formal legal protection, by calling police, or obtaining civil protection orders (restraining orders) from the court system.  Civil protection orders can be used to protect victims from future contact by an abuser. 

Some victims may informally seek protection from abuse, by telling their doctor or other trusted professionals about their abuse experiences --- which can often serve as an impetus for victims to develop a safety plan for themselves and possibly seek legal protection from police and courts. 

Some victims may find seeking protection is more difficult than others; for example, victims who reside in rural settings often have fewer resources to access compared to women in urban settings. 

The links below will provide you with additional information about seeking protection.  Please write back if you have further questions.

Related Resources:

Help for Victims: Hotline Numbers
Protect Yourself (National Coalition Against Domestic Violence)
Violence against Women: State Resources (National Women's Health Information Center)
The Hotline - Get Help in Your Area

For more information:

Go to the Domestic Violence health topic, where you can:

Response by:

Amy E Bonomi, PhD, MPH Amy E Bonomi, PhD, MPH
Associate Professor
Human Development and Family Science
College of Education and Human Ecology
The Ohio State University