Criminal Justice Menu
Mayor's Office on Criminal Justice (MOCJ) - Domestic Violence Resources, Links, and Information
- Facts and Stats
- Power and Control Wheel
- Are you in an abusive relationship? Questionnaire
- What to do when your home isn't safe: Obtaining Protective Orders and Peace Orders
- Help is Available: Resources and Links
- Resources in College Communities
Facts & Stats
- Domestic abuse is a pattern of behavior used by one person in a relationship to gain power and control over another, usually an intimate partner. The pattern can include physical, sexual, emotional, and/or economic abuse. Domestic violence is about power and control
- Domestic violence is not confined to any one socioeconomic, ethnic, religious, racial, or age group.
- Somewhere in America a woman is battered, usually by her intimate partner, every 15 seconds. (UN Study On The Status of Women, Year 2000)
- One out of three American Women (31%) reports being physically or sexually abused by a husband or boyfriend at some point in her life. (The Commonwealth Fund, May 1999)
- Domestic violence occurs in approximately 25-33% of same-sex relationships. (NYC Gay and Lesbian Anti-Violence Project, October 1996)
- Domestic violence is the leading cause of injury to women between ages 15 and 44 in the United States, more than car accidents, muggings, and rapes combined. (Commonwealth Fund)
- Globally, at least one in three women and girls had been beaten or sexually abused in her lifetime. (UN Commission on the Status of Women, 2/28/00)
- Domestic violence takes a devastating toll on children. Over three million children witness parental violence every year. Children whose mothers are victims of wife battery are twice as likely to be abused themselves as those children whose mothers are not victims of abuse. When children witness violence in the home, they have been found to suffer many of the symptoms that are experienced by children who are directly abused. (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services)
Power and Control Wheel
Abuse or battering is a pattern of coercive behavior used by one person to control another person's actions and feelings. The power and control wheel illustrates methods batterers may use to exert power over you. The outside dark area of the wheel is the physical and sexual violence that has been or can be used. The inner spokes or "pie shaped areas" are forms of abuse. Remember, these sections are held together by the threat or use of physical or sexual violence.
Using intimidation: The abuser makes their partner afraid by using looks, actions, gestures, smashing things, destroying property, abusing pets, displaying weapons.
Using emotional abuse: The abuser puts their partner down, makes their partner feel bad about themselves, calls their partner names, makes their partner think they are crazy, plays mind games, humiliates them, makes their partner feel guilty.
Using isolation: The abuser controls what their partner does, who their partner sees and talks to, what their partner reads, where their partner goes, limits their partner's outside involvement, uses jealousy to justify actions.
Minimizing, denying, and blaming: The abuser makes light of the abuse and not taking their partner's concerns about it seriously, says the abuse did not happen, shifts responsibility for abusive behavior, says their partner caused it.
Using children: The abuser makes their partner feel guilty about the children, uses the children to relay messages, uses visitation to harass their partner, threatens to take children away.
Using male privilege: The abuser treats their partner like a servant, makes all the big decisions, acts like the "master of the castle", is the one to define men's and women's roles.
Using economic abuse: The abuser prevents their partner from getting or keeping a job, makes their partner ask for money, gives their partner an allowance, takes their partner's money, does not let their partner know about or have access to family income.
Using coercion and threats: The
abuser makes and/or carries out threats to hurt their
partner, threatens to leave their partner, to commit
suicide, to report their partner to welfare, makes their
partner drop charges, makes their partner do illegal
things.
Other adaptations of the Power and Control Wheel can be located on the National Center On Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault website.
Questionnaire
Does Your Partner:
- Constantly put you down?
- Get extremely jealous?
- Threaten to hurt you, your pet, family or friends?
- Keep you from spending time with family or friends?
- Insist that you dress or wear your hair a certain way?
- Force you to kiss him/her or do things you don't want to?
- Have unexpected outbursts of anger?
- Break your things or go through your personal belongings?
- Hit, punch, slap, kick or shove you?
- Keep you from going where you want to go?
- Humiliate or embarrass you in front of others?
Do you:
- Comply with your partner's wishes because you are afraid to hurt his/her feelings or are afraid of your partner's anger?
- Have the urge to "rescue" your partner when he/she is in trouble?
- Lie to your friends of family about any bruises or physical harm your partner may have caused?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, you may be in an abusive relationship. Help is available. You are not alone. Domestic violence affects people in every community regardless of income, race, ethnicity, marital status, age, gender, physical ability, or sexual orientation.
What to do when your home isn't SAFE:
Obtaining Protective Orders and Peace Orders:
*Information from the Maryland Network Against Domestic Violence (MNADV) brochure.
No One Has the Right to Harm You
Plan for your Safety:
If you are being hurt by a spouse, partner, or family member, assistance is available to help protect yourself and your children.
- Call the Police (911) if you feel you are in danger or need immediate help. The police records of the call can also support your case if it goes to court.
- Contact your local domestic violence program. They can give you information about the law, shelters, counseling, legal help, and more ways to keep you safe.
- Arrange a signal with a neighbor, friend, or co-worker to let them know when you need help.
- Leave the home if it is unsafe for you to remain there. Seek shelter with a friend or relative, or at a domestic violence program.
- Prepare an emergency get-away kit for you and your children with money, keys, a change of clothes, and important papers (such as ID card or driver's license, birth certificate, social security cards, passport, health records, and school records). Keep these in a safe place where your abuser won't find them in case you need to leave in a hurry. Get medical attention if you think you have been injured. Medical records may also be helpful for documenting your case if it goes to court.
- Get a Protective Order or a Peace Order. These are court orders you can get without the help of a lawyer, which restrict the abuser's behavior and may grant certain rights to you, to make you safer. Someone who violates a Protective Order or Peace Order may be arrested or found in contempt of court.
Protective Orders
Who can get a Protective Order?
You are eligible to file for a Protective Order if you are being hurt or threatened by:
- a current or former spouse
- someone with whom you have a child in common
- a cohabitant - someone
you have lived with as a sexual partner for at least
90 days out of the past year (this includes
homosexual and heterosexual relationships) - a parent, stepparent, child, or stepchild you have lived with for at least 90 days within the past year
- any person to whom you are related to by blood, marriage, or adoption
2. What actions must have been committed against me?
The person who applies for the Protective Order (the petitioner) must have been a victim of abuse. The law defines abuse as:
- an act that cause physical harm
- an act that placed the person in fear of serious bodily harm
- assault in any degree
- rape or sexual assault, or attempted rape or sexual assault
- false imprisonment - keeping someone in place against his or her will
3. What is the process for getting a Protective Order?
To begin the process of getting a Protective Order, you file a Petition for Protection. During normal business hours, you can obtain and file at the Civil Clerk's desk in either the District or Circuit Court, in the county where the abuse occurred. Your local domestic violence program can help you find the nearest court and guide you through this process. There is no fee for filing a Petition for protection.
On the Petition for Protection, you will give information about your abuser and the abuse received. Once you complete the form, you will see a judge the same day in a "Temporary Protective Order" hearing. As long as the judge has reasonable grounds to believe the abuse occurred, he or she will issue a Temporary Order.
The Temporary Order takes effect as soon as it is given to your abuser - "served" - by law a enforcement officer. Before you return home or to a place where your abuser might be, you should make sure the order has been served and your abuser has left the house or apartment. You can find out whether the protective order has been served by contacting your local sheriff's office.
The Temporary Order will list the date your Final Protective Order Hearing in about 7 days. The Temporary Order is in effect only until the date of the Final Protective Order Hearing.
**Remember that a Protective Order will not necessarily stop your abuser from coming near or harming you. But it gives the police a greater ability to respond if he or she does so. You may still need to go to a shelter or other safe place even if you have a Protective Order.
The Final Protective Order Hearing
Within 7 days after Temporary Order is issued, the Final Protective Order hearing is held before a judge. The victim must attend this hearing; the abuser will usually be at this hearing, and may bring a lawyer. You may bring a lawyer if you wish, or a court companion from your local domestic violence program.
The judge will grant a Final Protective Order if the abuser consents to the Order, or if the judge finds "clear and convincing evidence" that the abuse has occurred. Be sure to bring any evidence you have, such as witnesses, photographs, medical and police reports, objects used to injure you, etc. If the abuser does not appear, the judge may grant a Final Protective Order by default.
The Final Protective Order takes effect immediately. A Final Protective Order lasts up to 12 months, with a possibility of a 6-month extension.
** Once you receive a Protective Order, keep a copy with you at all times. Tell your neighbors, people at your work, and people at your child's school or daycare that you have an Order but may still be in danger. Leave copies of the Protective Order at work and at the school.
4. What protections can I get?
In an Interim or Temporary Order, the judge can grant "stay away" or "no contact" orders which order the abuser to:
- stop abusing or threatening to abuse you
- stop contacting, attempting to contact, or harassing you
- stay away from your work, school, or residence
- move out of the home where you live
- stay away from your childcare provider
The judge can also:
- grant you temporary custody of your children
- grant you temporary use and possession of the home, if you live with the abuser
In the Final Protective Order, the judge can add orders concerning:
- surrender firearms to law enforcement
- professional counseling
- financial support
- temporary use a possession of a vehicle
5. What happens if a Protective Order is violated?
If the abuser violates the Order, call 911 immediately. Police are required to arrest the abuser for violating the "no-contact" or "stay away" provisions.
The first conviction for the violation of a Protective Order may bring up to 90 days in jail and/or a $1,000 fine. Second and subsequent convictions may bring up to 1 year in jail and/or a $2,500 fine.
If the abuser violates other orders - those about child custody, visitation, financial support, temporary use of a car, counseling, firearms, or staying away from a childcare provider - he or she may be cited for contempt of court.
Peace Orders
Peace Orders are very similar to Protective Orders, but they have some important differences.
1. Who can get a Peace Order?
Anyone who is NOT eligible for a Protective Order may petition for a Peace Order.
2. What acts must have been committed against me?
To petition for a Peace Order, you must have been a victim of abuse, or Harassment, Stalking, Trespassing, or Malicious Destruction of Property.
3. What protections can I get with a Peace Order?
The judge can order the abuser to:
- stop committing or threatening to commit the acts you indicated were committed against you
- refrain from contacting, attempting to contact, or harassing you
- stay away from your work, school, or residence
- attend professional counseling
- pay filing fees or costs
4. What is the process for getting a Peace Order?
The process for obtaining a Peace Order is similar to that for a Protective Order: you file a petition, and are granted a Temporary Peace Order, at which time a Final Peace Order hearing is scheduled.
The main differences between Peace Orders and Protective Orders are:
- the Peace Order petition must be filed in the District Court
- the act must have occurred within 30 days before filing the petition
- there is a fee for filing and serving a Peace Order Petition (the fee is usually $30 to $50, and part or all of it may sometimes be waived)
- the order lasts 6 months
- a Peace Order may be filed against a juvenile by first contacting the local department of justice
- a Peace Order does not restrict the rights to firearms
5. What happens if a Peace Order is violated?
If the abuser violates orders to attend counseling or pay fees, he or she may be charged contempt by the court. If the respondent violates any other orders, he or she can be arrested and faces up to 90 days in jail and/or $1,000 fine.
Help is Available: Resources and Links
Baltimore City
Hotline: 410-889-7884
House Of Ruth: 410-889-0840
Hotline: 410-828-6390
Turnaround: 410-837-7000
Baltimore County
Hotline: 410-828-6390
Family and Children's Services of Central Maryland: 410-281-1334
Family Crisis Center of Baltimore County, Inc.: 410-285-4357
Shelter: 410-285-7496
Turnaround: 410-377-8111
| National Domestic Violence Hotline | 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) |
| National Sexual Assault Hotline | 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) |
| House of Ruth | 2201 Argonne Drive Baltimore, MD 21218 |
| Turnaround, Inc. | 330 N. Charles Street, 21201 410-837-7000 401 Washington Avenue, 21204 410-377-8111 |
| CHANA | The Associate: Jewish Federation of Baltimore 101 W. Mt. Royal Avenue Baltimore, MD 21201 |
| Adelante | Helps Immigrant / Latino Women (bilingual program) 1922 E. Lombard Street Baltimore, MD 21231 |
| Women's Law Center of Maryland, Inc. | Family Law Hotline: 1-800-845-8550 Legal Forms Helpline: 1-800-818-9888 |
| Maryland Network Against Domestic Violence | |
| National Center On Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault | |
| Gay Men's Domestic Violence Project |
Crisis line: 1-800-832-1901 |
| National Center on Elder Abuse | |
| Maryland's People's Law Library | |
| Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault | |
| RAINN (Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network) |
|
| Health Care | LifeBridge Health, Sinai Hospital, Northwest Hospital, Levindale |
| Mercy Medical Center S.A.F.E. Program (Sexual Assault Forensic Examiner) |
Carole Brokos, SAFE Nurse: 410-332-9499 Emergency Department: 410-332-9477 |
Resources in College Communities
| College of Notre Dame of Maryland | ||||||
|
||||||
| Coppin State College | ||||||
|
||||||
| Johns Hopkins University | ||||||
| Counseling
Center Garland Hall, 3rd Floor 410-516-8278 |
||||||
| Loyola College in Maryland | ||||||
|
||||||
| Maryland Institute College of Art | ||||||
| Campus
Resources Health Services MD General Health Care Center (adjacent to Bunting Center) |
||||||
| Morgan State University | ||||||
|
||||||
| Peabody Institute | ||||||
|
||||||
| Towson University | ||||||
|
||||||
| University of Baltimore | ||||||
|
||||||
| University of Maryland, Baltimore | ||||||
|
||||||
| University of Maryland, Baltimore County | ||||||
|
||||||
| Villa Julie College | ||||||
|
||||||