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Keeping Safe

If you are in immediate danger, call 911.

Help and support come in many forms. At Hubbard House, we are committed to providing a wide range of services designed to meet the needs of all victims of domestic violence. We understand leaving a violent relationship is very difficult and we want to do everything we can to keep victims safe and educated about their options. The first step to protecting you and your family is to reach out to an advocate through our 24-hour hotline (904) 354-3114 or (800) 500-1119 to receive counseling and safety planning assistance over the phone.

A safety plan is a comprehensive plan for protecting you and your children from domestic violence and/or to help you safely escape from the violence and your abuser. For a safety plan to be effective, it needs to be personalized to your situation and updated every time your situation changes. There are general things that anyone should do if they find themselves engaged in a volatile argument; things like staying away from rooms with sharp edges or weapons, rooms like bathrooms and kitchens, or making sure your access to a phone and an exit are not blocked, just in case. A safety plan goes much further than this.

Your plan may involve working out signals with trusted neighbors so they know when to call the police, changing your route to work, working out a code word with children and others so they know when you need help or making sure your children know how to call 911 and know where they can go to be safe. Often, writing out your plan helps you regain security and control of your life. Remember, this plan should be used as a guide and a reminder of ways you and your family can increase your safety. This plan should be hidden in a safe place where the abuser is unlikely to find it. It should also be reviewed and updated on a regular basis if the situation or living environment changes.

A safety plan is only part of what you can do to increase your safety. There are also legal options available to you if you have been abused or threatened with abuse.

If you are in immediate danger or have been attacked, call the police. Under Florida law, the police can arrest a person with probable cause that an act of domestic violence has been committed. And because domestic violence is an act against the state, it’s up to the state to press charges. This makes it easier for you to move forward legally because the state makes the decision to prosecute based on the evidence, not your abuser’s apologies, promises, or threats. Calling the police may be the best thing for not just you but for the abuser, as it could lead to court ordered batterers’ intervention. Second, if necessary, get medical attention.

Restraining Orders/Injunctions for Protection

You can also protect yourself from future violent acts by obtaining a restraining order, also known as an injunction for protection. There has to have been violence or threats of violence for an order to be granted. If the judge grants your request, the abuser may be restricted from:

  • Committing any act of violence against you, your children, or others living with you.
  • Living in your home.
  • Contacting you or visiting your home, workplace, or other specified place.
  • Taking your children. You can ask for temporary custody of the children you and the abuser have together.
  • Refusing to go to counseling. You can include a request for referral to the Batterers’ Intervention Program or mandatory counseling in your injunction.

An injunction for protection can be granted even if you have never called the police or pressed charges against your abuser. You only have to have reason to fear your partner and that fear is based on some serious threat or past violence. Keep your injunction with you at all times! If your abuser violates the injunction, he/she can be arrested.

Additionally, this is an especially dangerous time because you have taken an action that lessens the abuser’s sense of control. In addition to assisting you with obtaining an injunction for protection, Hubbard House court advocates can help you develop a safety plan for you and your children and can offer safe shelter if needed. Please call (904) 630-7514 for more information about the injunction for protection process or to speak with a Hubbard House court advocate.

If you or someone you know is in a violent relationship and needs help please call the Hubbard House 24-hour hotline at (904) 354-3114 or (800) 500-1119 to learn more about the help that is available — you don’t have to be the victim to call.