Inform Article

Safety Tips for Victims of Domestic Violence

05.26.2010
Posted by Noelle Smith of Legal Aid Society of Palm Beach County
Safety Tips for Victims of Domestic Violence picture
Photo by Flickr user Mat_the_W

If you or someone you know has been the victim of domestic violence, there are important steps you can take to help end the abuse. The Florida Coalition Against Domestic Violence offers the following important safety tips if you are involved in a violent relationship:

 

What are some options you may consider?

  • Call the police in an emergency.

  • File a police report about the violence.

  • Call the domestic violence hotline (1-800-500-1119) to talk, get information or ideas, find a shelter, or make a safety plan or escape plan.

  • Have the abuser ordered by the court to stay away from you by getting an Injunction for Protection.

  • See a doctor for injuries (and consider having him/her write down what caused the injuries).

  • Talk to a friend, family member, neighbor or someone else for support and ask for help.

  • If you are considering leaving the relationship, make a safety plan with the help of a trusted friend or family member, or with a counselor from the domestic violence hotline.

The Florida Coalition Against Domestic Violence offers the following tips if you are using computers and the internet to create your safety plan.

What should I know about Internet and computer safety?

  • Computers create records in hundreds of ways of everything you do on the computer and on the Internet. They can provide a lot of private information about what you look at on the Internet, the emails you send, and other activities. It is not possible to delete or clear all computer "footprints" or history.

  • If you are in danger, please try to use a safer computer where someone abusive does not have direct access, or even remote (hacking) access. Safer computer access may be at a public library, a community technology center (CTC) http://www.ctcnet.org/ (national directory), at a friend's house, or at an Internet Café.

  • There are many ways to monitor computer usage. If you think your activities are being monitored, you are probably right. Abusive people are often controlling and want to know your every move. You don't need to be a computer expert or have special skills to monitor someone's computer activities-anyone can do it.

  • If you think you may be monitored on your home computer, you might consider no home Internet use or "safer" Internet surfing.

Example: If you are planning to flee to another city, don't look at classified ads for jobs and apartments, or bus tickets for that area on a home computer or any computer an abuser has physical or remote access to. Use a safer computer to research an escape plan.

Where can I find more information?

Call the Florida Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-500-1119. Information is available in English, Spanish, and Creole.

Visit the Florida Coalition Against Domestic Violence website.

For questions about legal representation, call the Legal Aid Society's Domestic Violence Project at (561) 655-8944 Ext. 238.

IMPORTANT: The information on this Website is not intended as legal advice or representation. No attorney-client relationship is created between the Legal Aid Society of Palm Beach County, Inc. and any person obtaining information from this website. Public benefits and other laws change frequently. We strive to keep this website up to date but cannot provide a guarantee that this information is accurate as of the time you are reading it.