Domestic Violence

Steps to avoid

By Bijal Pandya, Esq.

Domestic violence can include acts of abuse between spouses, between individuals living together, or between dating couples, and can be committed by either sex. Some examples:

• Physical violence, such as slapping, punching, shoving, and throwing things at another person;
• Coerced sexual acts;
• Jokes/insults aimed at a person's sexuality;
• Threats of abuse to the other party, children, or immediate family members ("Tell anyone anything and I'll take the children away.")
• Psychological abuse, such as insults intended to demean, debilitate or destroy a person's self-confidence ("You are so repulsive, even you should know I'd be better off alone.")

If you are in a dangerous or abusive relationship, you should consider taking the following steps:

• Leaving the marital/shared residence. Call a nearby local shelter or domestic violence hotline for immediate protection (the local yellow pages should have the phone numbers). Pack clothing for yourself and any children or try to pack in advance and leave everything with a trusted friend or relative. Be sure to keep extra car/house keys, cash, and important documents (such as immigration papers) with you at all times.
• Calling the police. They will arrest the abuser if there is "probable cause" to believe a crime has been, or is being, committed (for example, if the abuser is screaming or out of control, or if you or your children have been injured), and they can offer immediate protection. File a report with a police officer and be sure to write down the report number and the officer's name and badge number for future reference. If you have been physically injured, take pictures -- which a lawyer can use as proof against the abuser in court.
• Getting medical care, if necessary. Go to the emergency room of a nearby hospital. Even if you do not have insurance, an emergency room must give you assistance if you have been injured or sexually abused. If your abuser has forced you to have sex or to perform sexual acts, you can charge that person with rape and have him or her arrested.

If you are in an abusive relationship, you can contact the following organizations for immediate help: the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence at (303) 839-1852, and the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233).

Bijal Jani Pandya, Esq. is an attorney in New York specializing in real estate, immigration, and family law matters. She can be reached at (845) 735-0247 or by e-mail at sbpandya@aol.com. This article is being published for information purposes only - for specific legal advice you should contact an attorney.

Domestic Violence
Emotional and verbal abuse qualify as domestic violence

Domestic Violence
Emotional and verbal abuse qualify as domestic violence

Domestic Violence
Women's Rights

Employee Lawsuits
Dealing with violence in the workplace

Rightwing Extremism
Current Economic and Political Climate Fueling Resurgence in Radicalization and Recruitment

Women Appointed For First Time To Singapore's Sharia Appeal Board
In Singapore, for the first time three women have been appointed t...

Case Law Development: Inter-American Commission on Human Rights Finds Domestic Violence Police Response Case Admissible
The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, in the case of Jess...

Teaching Resources: Domestic Violence & Poverty
For those of you who aren't familiar with the In Her Shoes exercis...

How can I prove my wife only married me to get a green card?
The problem with an annulment is that they are hard to get-- they are not someth...

Can I return an entire lot of merchandise is some of the items were not as advertised?
Since they were specified as leather, you do have a case - however, your best fi...

I had pictures taken for a web cam site that I briefly worked for and the individual who took the pictures has placed them on the internet without written consent. They will not take it down and they do have my SS and i
Contact your states cyber cell as quick as possible ....

Can women be denied admissions to a military school that historicallyl limits enrollment to men only?
The "equal protection under the law" clause of the 14th Amendment appl...

What rights does a father have when a woman waits 13 years to tell a man he is a father & he missed out on the growing up of that child?
Actually, he has as much right as she to request a paternity test, plus he can f...