The factors that place victims of domestic violence at greatest risk for homicide during a relationship are the same as those that place a victim at greatest risk after separation, including:
• The abusers’ access to firearms
• Abuser’s threats of suicide and/or to kill the victim or harm the children
• Abuser’s lack of protective factors (such as social support, steady employment, and a positive reputation in the community)
• A recent separation
• Physically forced sex
• A history of strangulation
• A history of stalking
• The abuser’s abuse of alcohol and/or use of illegal drugs
• Coercive control
• Constant or violent jealousy
• That a victim believes the abuser is capable of killing them
Contact your local domestic violence agency to assess risk and safety factors and to develop an individualized safety plan. If you do seek a protective order, you will want to have as much evidence as possible when you go into court.
Emergency, temporary, or permanent protective orders are not hard to obtain, but turning that temporary order into a longer-term order requires more evidence and usually the help of a lawyer and/or advocate. Your family court case (involving divorce or child custody) may be prejudiced if you seek a protective order and it is denied.
One domestic violence survivor cautions: “When you are awarded your protective order, never dismiss the order. You can get your protection order modified if you ever want to permit more contact, but if you dismiss the order, you may be unable to secure a second order later on.”
She further reminds victims that they can hide their address, protect their place of work, and list pets, friends, family members, and property as protected parties to the order at the time the order is entered.
Whether or not you think your abuser will respect a protection order, it’s important to take safety precautions very seriously around the time you leave. Contact your local domestic violence agency to help you make a safety plan. For more information, please contact DART at 318-395-8006.