|
Call the police
If
you feel you are in danger from your abuser at any time, you
can call 911 or your local police.
Consider
the following:
- If you
are in danger when the police come, they can protect you.
- They
can help you and your children leave your home safely.
- They
can arrest your abuser when they have enough proof that you
have been abused.
- They
can arrest your abuser if a peace bond or restraining order
has been violated.
- When
the police come, tell them everything the abuser did that
made you call.
- If you
have been hit, tell the police where. Tell them how many times
it happened. Show them any marks left on your body. Marks
may take time to show up. If you see a mark after the police
leave, call the police to take pictures of the marks. They
may be used in court.
- If your
abuser has broken any property, show the police.
- The police
can give you information on domestic violence programs and
shelters.
- The police
must make a report saying what happened to you. Police reports
can be used in court if your abuser is charged with a crime.
- Get the
officers' names, badge numbers, and the report number in case
you need a copy of the report.
- A police
report can be used to help you get a restraining order.
Call
the Assaulted
Women's Helpline
The
Assaulted Women's Helpline is a 24 hour helpline operating in
the province of Ontario (24
hours a day, 7 days a week) at
the following numbers:
Translations
available in up to 154 languages;
Service is anonymous and confidential)
- in the
GTA: (416) 863-0511
- anywhere
in Ontario call Toll Free: 1-866-863-0511
- Toll
Free TTY: 1-866-863-7868
Visit the
Assaulted Women's Helpline website at
http://www.awhl.org
Call
an agency
in your community providing services to abused women
Get support from friends and family
Tell your supportive family,
friends and co-workers what has happened.
Get medical help
If you have
been hurt, go to the hospital or your doctor.
Medical
records can be important in court cases. They can also help
you get a restraining order. Give all the information about
your injuries and who hurt you that you feel safe to give.
Follow this link to
find contact information for Sexual
and Domestic Assault Treatment Centres (on
the 211Toronto.ca site):
Many hospital
emergency departments have developed special procedures for
assaulted women. They are called “emergency protocols”.
If you go to your hospital emergency department, they can
document your injuries, and this may help if you go to court.
Of course a doctor in private practice can also document your
injuries. Tell anyone who examines you that your injuries
are the result of abuse or assault
Special
medical concerns
- Sometimes
you may not even know you are hurt.
- What
seems like a small injury could be a big one.
- If
you are pregnant and you were hit in your stomach, tell
the doctor. Many abusers hurt unborn children.
- Domestic
violence victims can be in danger of closed head injuries.
This is because their abusers often hit them in the head.
Get medical care right away if any of these things happen
after a hit to the head:
Memory
loss
Dizziness
Problems with eyesight
Throwing-up
Headache that will not go away
Make notes
If you can,
write down everything as soon as possible after the assault.
Write down what everyone said, with times, dates, and names
if possible. Write down details of your injuries. Keep this
in a safe place. You can use it to refresh your memory if you
testify in court, have been hurt, go to the hospital or your
doctor.
Find a safe place
It is not fair. You
should not have to leave your home because of what your abuser
has done. But sometimes it is the only way you will be safe.
There are shelters that can help you.
Follow this link to
find contact information for Shelters
for Abused Women in Ontario (on
the 211Toronto.ca site):
Many shelters
can arrange emergency transportation (for example, a taxi)
for you to get there.
You may
want to stay with family or friends. Be careful about staying
with someone who does not fully understand the situation.
They may encourage you to return to your partner which may
only lead to more violence. Think about where you will feel
most safe, and whether your partner will be able to find you.
Only you can decide when to leave, but it is best to leave
when your partner is not at home. However, if you are in immediate
danger leave right away. See the Emergency
Checklist for more information.
Make
a safety plan
The above
information was obtained from the following sources:
The
Domestic Handbook
developed by the Oakland County Coordinating Council Against
Domestic Violence
Guide
to Services for Assaulted Women in Ontario
developed by Community
Info Toronto
Resource
added or updated to the DAWN Ontario site:
May 23, 2002
You
Deserve To Be Safe: An Educational Video
for Girls
with disAbilities;
accompanied by a Resource Guide booklet
Read the booklet online
Order
the booklet
Disabled? Sexually Assaulted?
Need Help? Sexual Assault and Women With Disabilities.
Read
the brochure online
Order
the brochure
DAWN
Ontario's Annotated Bibliography and A Statement of Need
re: Violence Against Women With Disabilities:
This
project was an interactive needs assessment used to determine
what information is available for consumers of service, service
providers and family members in respect to understanding or
assisting Women with disAbilities having to deal with a variety
of circumstances such as abuse, violence, neglect, or access
to services which are appropriate.
Legal
Services for Abused Women
Please
note that the LEGAL links below
no longer work ... information
has either been removed from the server or moved to a new location.
We'll attempt to find new location and update links.
Ways
to keep an abusive partner away:
Peace
bonds Broken link
If you fear that your partner will hurt you, your family or
your property, you can try to get a peace bond. This is for
cases where you do not want to call the police or the police
have not charged him.
Restraining
orders Broken link
You can use the Family Law Act to stop your partner from harassing
you or your children if you are legally married, have lived
common law for three years or more, or lived together less
than three years but had a child together.
Dual
peace bonds/dual restraining orders Broken
link
You may be told that you cannot get a peace bond or restraining
order unless you agree to sign one as well. This is called
a dual peace bond or dual restraining order.
Exclusive
possession Broken link
If you are legally married the court may decide, in some situations,
that you have a right to stay in the house or apartment where
you lived with your husband, and that he must leave. This
is called “exclusive possession of the matrimonial home”.
This order does not stop your husband from contacting you.
Criminal Law:
Responsibilities
of the police Broken link
Laying
charges Broken link
Countercharging
Broken link
Justice
of the Peace Broken link
What
happens after an arrest? Broken
link
Bail
Broken link
Conditions
of release Broken link
Criminal
Court System:
Crown
Attorney Broken link
Victim/Witness
Assistance Programs Broken link
Other
court support Broken link
Criminal
trial Broken link
Domestic
Violence Courts Broken link
Getting
money for physical and psychological damage:
Criminal
Injuries Compensation Board Broken
link
(416) 326-2900, toll-free 1-800-372-7463 (1-800-37-CRIME)
Suing
the abuser Broken link
Personal
and Family:
Your
rights under family law Broken
link
Legal
aid Broken link
Community
legal clinics Broken link
Finding
a lawyer Broken link
Lawyer referral service Broken
link
Support
and custody Broken link
Supervised
visiting Broken link
Sponsorship/immigration
status Broken link
Return
to DAWN Ontario website
Go To Top
|
