DOMESTIC VIOLENCE INFORMATION
Victims of domestic violence should immediately report any abuse to the police department. Despite reassurances from the batterer, incidents of domestic violence may continue to increase in both intensity and frequency. The Santa Ana Police Department has a full-time victim assistance specialist assigned to assist the victims of domestic violence with temporary shelter, medical assistance, resource information, and more. We encourage victims of domestic violence to obtain a restraining order against a batterer to further protect family members and themselves from continued abuse.
Due to legal constraints, subjects arrested for domestic violence may be released at any time. Victims of domestic violence are encouraged to use the Victim Notification Everyday (V.I.N.E.) service to be automatically contacted prior to the subject’s release from custody.
Restraining Orders
As a victim of domestic violence, you have the right to file a petition with the Superior Court requesting a restraining order. Judges may issue orders that:
- Restrain the batterer (restrained person) from abusing the victim (protected person) and other family members.
- Direct the restrained person to leave the household.
- Prevent the restrained person from entering the protected person’s residence, school, business or place of employment.
- Award the protected person temporary custody of minor children.
- Restrain the restrained person from bothering or interfering with minor children in the protected person’s custody.
- Direct the restrained person to pay for the support of minor children if he or she has a legal obligation to do so.
- Direct the restrained person to make specified payments coming due while the order is in effect.
- Direct that either one or both parties participate in counseling.
Enforcing Court Restraining Orders
After you file a restraining order with the court, the restrained person must be served with a copy of the order before it can be enforced. A copy of the order must also be filed with the police agency having jurisdiction over the protected person’s residence. After a restraining order has been properly served and filed, the restrained person is subject to arrest for any violation of the order.
Victim / Witness Assistance
All victims of crime, their family members and witnesses of crime may obtain information and assistance from the CSP Victim/Witness Assistance Program, (714) 834-4350. For assistance with issues involving domestic violence, call 714-245-8441 to speak with a victim specialist.
Victim/Witness Assistance specialists will answer your questions and give you information or refer you to agencies in your community for services that meet your special needs. Some of these services include medical care, counseling, transportation, court escort, state compensation claims, and crisis intervention. The Victim/Witness Assistance Program also gives special emphasis to helping several types of victims: domestic violence, senior citizens, sexual assault, and families of homicide victims. Victim counselors will be assigned to help you with your case.
|
