Domestic Violence
In the United States, more than one-third of women aged 18 and over — approximately 42.4 million women — have experienced physical violence, sexual violence, and/or stalking by a current or former intimate partner at some point in their lifetime. Men are also victims of domestic violence, but the vast majority of victims are women.
Victims of domestic violence come from all cultures, all income groups, all ages, and all religions.
Domestic violence can be lethal. On average, more than three women are murdered by their husbands or boyfriends each day in this country.
Recognizing Domestic Violence: Warning Signs of Abuse
Does a current or former partner, household member, or family member…
Hit, punch, slap, kick, or bite you or the children?
Use or threaten to use a weapon against you?
Threaten to hurt you or the children?
Force you to have sex against your will?
Destroy personal property or sentimental items?
Control all finances and force you to account in detail for what you spend?
Humiliate you in front of others?
Keep track of all of your time?
Constantly accuse you of being unfaithful?
Discourage your relationships with family and friends?
Prevent you from working or attending school?
Criticize you for little things?
If you find yourself saying yes to any of these questions, you may want to make a plan to stay safe and connect with resources in your community to help you.
If you are injured, what can you do?
Call 9-1-1.
Get medical attention from your doctor or a medical emergency room. The medical staff may find injuries you cannot see. Ask the staff to photograph your injuries and keep detailed records in case you decide to take legal action.
If you have been sexually abused, do not shower, change clothing, comb your hair, or use the bathroom before seeking medical attention so that evidence is not destroyed. You may want to take a change of clothing with you to the emergency room.
Consider contacting community resources that can help you.
CRISIS SHELTER OF LAWRENCE COUNTY – crisisshelter.org
Crisis Shelter of Lawrence County
1218 W. State Street
New Castle, PA 16101
724-652-9036 (Business)
How can the New Castle City Police Department help victims of domestic violence?
If you experience domestic violence, call 9-1-1 and make a report to the police.
It is the policy of the NCPD:
To treat every act of domestic violence as a criminal offense that merits a strong and swift police response… all sworn personnel responding to calls regarding domestic abuse or violence will render every necessary assistance to the victim(s) and make arrests where warranted.
If a responding police officer observes or has probable cause to believe that an abuser has committed a crime, including violating a Protection from Abuse Order (PFA), officers have the power to arrest the abuser. The officer does not need to have witnessed the abuse in order to make an arrest. [See Below, “How Can the Legal System Help Victims of Domestic Violence?”]
If the abuser is arrested for violating a protection order, the police officer will seize all firearms, other weapons, and ammunition used or threatened to be used during the violation of a protection order and any other firearms in the defendant’s possession.
Police officers will inform you about community resources, including shelter information, and the procedure for seeking a civil protection from abuse order.
Police officers enforce protection orders from other counties or states.
How can the legal system help victims of domestic violence?
PROTECTION FROM ABUSE orders (PFA’s)
WHO ELIGIBLE?
An adult or minor who is being physically or sexually abused or threatened with harm by:
someone related by blood or marriage
current or former sexual or intimate partner
A parent or guardian must file on behalf of a minor
PFA’s CANNOT be filed against neighbors, friends, employers, etc…this is a case for law enforcement and a PFA does not apply here.
TEMPORARY AND FINAL PFA ORDERS:
When requesting a Protection From Abuse order, the victim must go to the PFA office at the courthouse; a Crisis Shelter advocate will be called.
When filing a temporary PFA, the victim may be at the courthouse for an extended period of time; the Judge may have other hearings scheduled.
The victim will need to call the attorney whose number is provided with the temporary PFA for representation at the final hearing.
FINAL HEARING DAY:
The person requesting a PFA should report to the PFA office by 8:30 A.M. On the day of the final PFA hearing, all victims and abusers will be in separate areas at the courthouse. If a victim is uncomfortable, they can ask the PFA advocate to be put in a separate room to feel safe.
The person requesting a PFA should dress appropriately for court. Inappropriate dress includes shorts, low cut tops, or t-shirts with printed matter on them. Capris, skorts, skirts, dress pants, and jeans that are free of holes or embellishments are appropriate apparel.
The person requesting a PFA should not bring children to court. No one under age 18 is allowed in the courtroom and there is no one to babysit. Only a child who is the plaintiff on a PFA may come to court and will meet with the judge in chambers. The advocate will accompany the child into chambers.
EMERGENCY PFA’s:
Granted from 3PM on Friday until 8AM on Monday (and holidays).
Call LEOC at 724.656.9300 or the Crisis Shelter at 724.652.9036 – the Magistrate will then return the call
The Emergency PFA will expire at 8AM on the first day court is open, then a temporary order must be filed.
Safety Planning Tips:
Contact resources in your community for help.
Memorize emergency phone numbers.
Keep a cell phone with you and program 9-1-1 in your phone.
Ask your neighbors to call 9-1-1 if they see the abuser at your home (and the abuser does not live there). •Establish a signal so they know when to call for help (for example, pulling a shade down or turning a light on and off).
File for a Protection From Abuse order. [See Above, “How Can the Legal System Help Victims of Domestic Violence?”]
If you have a Protection From Abuse order, keep it with you at all times.
If you are still in an abusive relationship: •Plan an escape route out of your home in case your partner is violent.
Think of a place to go if you need to escape your home.
Pack a bag with important items you would need in case you need to escape your home. Keep this bag in a safe place or give it to a friend you trust.
If you have left an abusive relationship, the following actions may make you safer: •Avoid staying home alone.
Cancel shared credit cards or bank accounts; choose a new bank and open a new account.
Change the locks on the door.
Change your phone number and make it unlisted.
Screen calls using caller ID and/or an answering machine.
Vary your daily routine so it is more difficult for an abuser to follow you.
Inform work and school contacts so they can help if the abuser tries to make contact with you or your children.
Install steel doors instead of wooden doors.
Install window bars.
Install a security system.
Get outside lighting.
Get smoke detectors and make sure they are working.
Place a fire extinguisher on every floor of your home.
If you must meet the abuser, do it in a public location.
Making Your Children Safer:
Tell the school principal, day care director, or any other care provider for your children not to release your children to anyone. Give them a copy of your court order.
Make sure the children know who to tell at school if they see the abuser.
Make sure the school or child care provider knows not to give your phone number or address to ANYONE.
Making Yourself Safer at the Courthouse:
Sit as far away from the abuser as you can.
Bring someone you trust to wait with you until your case is heard.
For a witness, get a blue subpoena so they can come into Family Court at 34 S. 11th Street). A blue subpoena is also known as a “friendly witness” subpoena. It is available in both English and Spanish at Family Court at 34 S. 11th Street in Customer Service, Clerk’s Office, Domestic Violence Unit, Custody Intake, Custody Master’s Unit, and all courtrooms. Pick up all of the copies you need on the day you file.
Tell a sheriff or the judge’s clerk that you are afraid of the abuser and ask him/her to look out for you.
Make sure you have your court order before you leave.
Ask the judge or the sheriff to keep the abuser in the courthouse for a while when the hearing is over; leave quickly.
Call police if you think the abuser is following you.
*adapted in part from Domestic Violence Safety Plan: Safety Tips for You and Your Family, a joint project of the American Bar Association Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section and the ABA Commission on Domestic Violence.
Tech Safety Tips:
An abuser could be monitoring your computer use, checking your phone records, listening to your phone calls, or tracking your whereabouts without you knowing about it.
If you feel like your abuser knows too much about your activities or your abuser is familiar with computers/technology, here are steps that may help you protect yourself:
Computers
Computer use leaves a trail that is impossible to erase completely. If an abuser has access to your computer, your computer use may be monitored through keystroke software or Spyware. To help protect yourself, consider these tips:
Use a safer computer instead of your personal computer, such as a computer at a public library.
Clear internet history, which is usually located under “Tools.”
Do not open attachments from an abuser or unknown senders.
Update computer virus programs regularly.
Be suspicious if an abuser has done repair work on your computer or has had access to your computer.
Contact an expert to check your computer for monitoring programs.
Keep in mind that email is not a confidential way to talk about information you want to keep private. Abusers may be monitoring email, stealing passwords, and viewing emails through spyware.
Create a new email account that is not tied to your identity.
Empty your “deleted email folder.”
Avoid passwords that are easy to guess.
Change passwords and pin numbers frequently.
Do not use the “remember me” or “auto log-in” feature on your computer.
Phone
Phone calls may be monitored, especially if there are features like caller ID, text messaging, call history, and voicemail. Phone calls on cordless phones can be intercepted by scanners, CB radios, and baby monitors. If you think your phone calls are being monitored, consider these tips:
Do not have a family or shared plan that could give an abuser access to your account.
Cell phone: •Use a new or donated cell phone with a different carrier or a prepaid calling card purchased with cash.
Turn off your cell phone when not in use for location privacy.
Set Bluetooth to “hidden” and GPS to “911” only.
Contact your cell phone provider to ensure that GPS is not enabled.
Home Phone
Minimize use of cordless phones or baby monitors.
Voicemail
Change passwords frequently.
Phone Records
Call your local phone company to request that your records be locked down and that information only be released to someone with a special code you have selected.
Keep your phone number confidential.
Keep your phone number unlisted.
Dial *67 prior to making a call to block your number from showing up on someone else’s caller ID.
Tracking/Surveillance
Cameras and/or GPS transmitters can track your location and can be hidden without you knowing about it. If you think someone is tracking your whereabouts, consider these tips:
Get a private mailbox address to give when asked for an address by doctors, businesses, and other people you trust. Do not give out your real address.
Look for patterns in the information an abuser appears to know. Patterns may help you identify possible camera locations.
Find a mechanic or law enforcement officer willing to search your car for a GPS device. Keep in mind that immediately removing a device could destroy evidence or possibly escalate the abuser by alerting the abuser.