Creating A Plan

What is a Safety Plan?

A safety plan is a tool used to help you identify your options when you are experiencing violence in an intimate relationship. This plan will assist you in determining what actions to take when you experience a domestic violence crisis.

What should I consider when leaving the abusive situation?

If you are living with domestic violence and plan to flee from your home, you should consider several things. Many times, women are at most risk immediately after they leave their abuser. For this reason, you should have a well thought out plan when you leave.

Before leaving, consider where you will go, the amount of money you will need to travel, eat, find housing or shelter, whether or not you will take your children, whether or not you will take pets, seeking approval for leave from work, and whether or not your destination will be found out by your abuser.

If I leave, what should I take?

You should be prepared to take some items along with you if you decide to leave your home. the following items should be stowed with a neighbor, friend, or in a safe place at your home or work where your abuser will not find them:

• Important Documents
  • Birth Certificates
  • Social Security Numbers
  • Marriage License
  • Insurance Information
  • School/Immunization Records
  • Medical Records
  • Bank Account Numbers
  • Financial Documentation
  • Protective or Court Orders
  • Any Other Important Documents

• List of Phone Numbers
  Create a list of phone numbers including those of family, friends, doctors, shelters and/or domestic violence agencies, local service providers, and other important contacts.
  
• Emergency Money
  If possible, collect enough money to purchase gas or pay for other forms of transportation, buy groceries, pay for a hotel room, purchase medications or any other necessities.
  
• Extra Clothing
  Pack a few changes of clothing and an extra set of shoes for you and the children. Remember diapers if you have an infant or toddler. Toys or books may also be helpful to pack so that your children have familiar items with them.

What if I decide to stay in my home?

If you remain in your home, it is important to have a safety plan for future episodes of abuse. Keep the following things in mind when creating an in-home safety plan:

• Are there ways that you can avoid a potentially abusive situation?
• Who can you call in the midst of a crisis?
• If you have children, how can you keep them safe even when you are in danger, i.e. have them go to a neighbor when abuse occurs?
• Avoid dangerous rooms when your partner becomes abusive, i.e. kitchen (knives and sharp objects are accessible to the abuser), bathrooms (you may be thrown against hard tiles or fixtures), rooms where guns or weapons are stored.
• Do you have an escape route if the situation becomes violent, i.e. a window you can escape through, a door that will lock from the inside?
• Keep a list of emergency phone numbers in a place that is accessible to you at all times.
• Trust your judgment when experiencing a violent assault. You know when it is best to call the police, escape, or placate the abuser.
• Consider talking with a Domestic Violence Victim Advocate about your situation. Advocates can offer support and information relevant to your situation.
• It is NOT your fault that your partner is abusive.
  Perpetrators of domestic violence can change if they want to change. Batterer's intervention programs are available through public mental health agencies.

Options

Criminal Charges

If you are being abused by a spouse or intimate partner, you can seek criminal charges against the perpetrator. The following criminal charges are related to domestic violence:

• Assault and Battery of a Family or Household Member

• Marital Sexual Assault

• Marital Rape

• Stalking

An arrest warrant can be secured by contacting the magistrate in your area. If the perpetrator is convicted of one or more of the above charges, he/she may be incarcerated.