Preparations to escape domestic violence include getting a protection order, stashing cash, clothing and spare keys at a friends, and more.
Part 2 of our series on domestic violence
- Hide money, spare keys and a small bag of clothes at work or at a friend’s house. For small children, hide a favorite toy or stuffed animal that will comfort them.
- Inform your employer about the situation and develop a safety plan at work. Share a photo and description of the abuser with them and any pertinent legal documentation, such as a protection order.
- Document the abuse by taking photos of bruises and injuries, tell your doctor and get copies of your medical records, save threatening voicemails, notes and e-mails and write each incident down in a journal.
- Gather important documents such as passports, birth certificates, social security cards, insurance papers, work permits or green cards, ownership documents for car and/ or house, checkbooks and bank account numbers. Hide these papers at work or at a friend’s house. Know the abuser’s social security number, birth date and place of birth.
- Consider obtaining a protection order. It directs the abuser not to contact, communicate with, attack, sexually assault or telephone you, your children or other family members. If you have a protection order, carry a copy of it with you at all times.
Continued next week!
Domestic Violence Series
- Part 1: Safety with an abuser
- Part 2: Plan for safety
- Part 3: Safety tips for those who have left their abusers
_
The Cleveland Police Foundation, in partnership with the Cleveland Division of Police and the Ohio Crime Prevention Association present these tips so citizens can help to make our community safer.