Norfolk District Attorney's Office Domestic Violence Advocates

A Norfolk District Attorney's Office Domestic Violence Advocate is available at all District Courts and the Probate and Family Court during business hours (Monday through Friday, 8:30 - 4:30). A Domestic Violence Advocate can provide legal advocacy and help you plan for your safety-whether you are still in the relationship, are making plans to leave or have already left.  

Brookline District Court	617-738-5072
Brookline
Dedham District Court	781-251-0216
Dedham, Dover, Needham, Norwood, Westwood, Medfield and Wellesley
Norfolk County Probate and Family Court	781-830-4800
all Norfolk County communities
Quincy District Court	617-479-7454
Braintree, Cohasset, Holbrook, Milton, Quincy, Randolph and Weymouth
Stoughton District Court	781-344-9227
Avon, Canton, Sharon and Stoughton
Wrentham District Court	508-384-3788
Foxborough, Franklin, Medway, Millis, Norfolk, Plainville, Walpole and Wrentham

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CAN HAPPEN TO ANYONE - AND EFFECTS EVERYONE!! What is Domestic Violence? Domestic violence (also known as partner violence, dating violence and family violence) is intentional behavior that: causes physical and emotional harm creates fear prevents the victim from doing what s/he wants forces the victim to do something s/he does not want to do Domestic violence is created by an inequality of power within a relationship which leads to an abuse of power. It is a pattern of coercive control that can take four forms: physical abuse emotional abuse sexual abuse economic abuse Each form of abuse or violence places the victim at significant risk of injury--emotional and/or physical. An abuser uses physical and sexual violence, threats, emotional insults and economic deprivation as a way to dominate the victim and get his or her way. Domestic violence can occur as a continuum of behavior ranging from emotional abuse and verbal assaults to physical abuse. The intent is for the batterer to feel superior and dominant in the relationship while making the victim feel subordinate, incompetent and anxious. Relationships in which one partner uses assault and coercion can be found among married, formerly married and unmarried heterosexuals, lesbians and gays. Domestic violence is not confined to any one socioeconomic, ethnic, religious, racial or age group. Help Is Available: Safety Planning, Legal Advocacy, Safe Shelter and Counseling for Victims and Children If you or someone you know needs help: Emergency: call the police at 911. 24-Hour Hotlines (toll-free) SafeLink: Massachusetts Statewide Domestic Violence Hotline 1-877-785-2020 DOVE 617-471-1234 1-888-314-3673 DOVE Youth Hotline 617-773-4878 New Hope 1-800-323-4673 National Domestic Violence Hotline: (TDD) 1-800-799-7233 1-800-787-3224 Domestic Violence Programs and Services Gay and Lesbian Domestic Violence Services Fenway Community Health Violence Recovery 1-800-834-3242 Gay Men's Domestic Violence Project 1-800-832-1901 Network for Battered lesbians & Bisexual Women 617-423-7233 National Gay and Lesbian Hotline 1-888-843-4564 Non-English/ESL Domestic Violence Victim Services Asian Task Force Against Domestic Violence 617-338-2355 Womansplace Crisis Center Hotline 508-588-2041 Network for Battered lesbians & Bisexual Women 617-423-7233 Casa Myrna Vasquez-Safelink 1-800-992-2600 Rape Crisis Centers Blackstone Valley Rape Crisis Services 1-800-511-5070 Boston Area Rape Crisis Center 617-492-7273 New Hope 1-800-323-4673 Womansplace Crisis Center 508-588-8255 Projecto Yamanos Spanish Language Hotline 1-800-223-5001 Additional information regarding domestic violence is available in District Attorney Morrissey's Domestic Violence brochure. To request a copy of this brochure, go to Publications. Online viewing will be available shortly. Teen Dating and ViolenceFor information on teen dating and violence please visit the District Attorney's Teen Dating and Violence Web page Domestic Violence Effects EveryoneDomestic violence remains a dangerous and serious social and legal problem. Furthermore, preventing domestic violence, protecting victims and holding abusers accountable for their actions make domestic violence a critical area of concern for all criminal justice agencies and professionals--police, prosecutors, courts, probation and corrections. Educators, public health officials, employers, clergy, medical providers and social service professionals have an equally strong investment in this critical area. Think About This It is estimated that over four million women in the United States are beaten each year. Almost three out of four (75%) women killed in America are murdered by current or former husbands or partners, usually when they were trying to leave or had already left. Between 20 and 35% of women seeking medical care in emergency rooms in America are there because of domestic violence. Women battered during pregnancy have more than twice the rate of miscarriages and give birth to more babies with more birth defects than women who suffer from any immunizable illness or disease. Domestic violence calls are the largest single category of calls to police each year. The effects of domestic violence on children are enormous and are just now being recognized. The bottom line: There are high costs (measured in dollars and cents) of domestic violence. Health care costs, costs to employers, law enforcement costs and social service costs associated with domestic violence add up to billions of dollars each year. Help for A FriendIf Someone You Know is Being AbusedVictims of domestic violence are often isolated. The most important thing you can do is to let your friend or family member know s/he isn't alone and that no one deserves to be abused. Let him/her know there are options. Direct him/her toward community domestic violence programs. Allow him/her to express his/her feelings. Remember, this may be the first time that s/he is confiding in someone. Tell your friend or family member that you believe her/him. Express your concern for the safety of your friend/family member and his/her children. Help him/her explore safety options. Emphasize that your friend or family member is not to blame for the violence nor can s/he cause violence in the relationship. Tell her/him that changing his/her behavior won't make the violence go away. Support your friend or family member even if s/he returns to the relationship. Let your friend or family member know you will always be there for him/her. Common Characteristics of Abusive Partners Abusive partners: Often behave differently in public than they do in private Have a need to control and exercise power through physical, emotional, sexual and/or financial means Minimize, deny and excuse their behavior by: projecting blame on the victim claiming loss of control blaming drugs and/or alcohol citing good intentions Obstacles to Leaving Abusive RelationshipsWhy doesn't s/he just leave? This is a common, but unfair, question. The question itself implies that the victim is to blame for the abuse. There are many obstacles to breaking away from abusive relationships. These obstacles include: Frequency and severity of abuse Victim's childhood Financial considerations Love Hope Fear Isolation Low Self-Esteem Desire to keep the family together Guilt Promises of change Emotional dependence Cultural acceptance WHERE ARE WE TODAY? HOW CAN WE TURN THE TIDE OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE? Reject violence or the threat of violence as an acceptable means to resolve any situation. Challenge stereotypes and labels regarding domestic violence, starting with a resounding challenge to the idea that domestic violence is a women's issue. Courts, police departments and district attorneys' offices have been actively engaged in a growing understanding that domestic violence is a community issue--not a male issue or a female issue. Teach by words and by example. Education is key to impacting behavior. Adults can provide positive role models for children. We need to work together to help young people understand that power and control are not synonymous with commitment and affection. Statewide On-Line Resource Guide to Domestic Violence ProgramsWorking together with the Massachusetts Department of Social Services, Massachusetts Coalition Against Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Jane Doe provides a Statewide On-Line Resource Guide designed to help you locate resources and/or make referrals to agencies across the state of Massachusetts. The Statewide On-Line Resource Guide is available online at http://www.janedoe.org/ERM/default.htm Information and ResourcesThere are a number of excellent sources of information and resources on domestic violence. Some of these include: American Bar Association Commission on Domestic Violence 740 15th Street, NW Washington, DC 20005 858-623-7777 x. 406 http://www.abanet.org/domviol/home.html Center for the Prevention of Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence 2400 N. 45th Street #10 Seattle, WA 98103 206-634-1903 206-634-0115 (fax) http://www.cpsdv.org/ Family Violence Prevention Fund (FVPF) 383 Rhode Island Street, Suite 304 San Francisco, CA 94103 415-252-8900 415-252-8991 (fax) http://www.fvpf.org The Massachusetts Coalition Against Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence (Jane Doe) 14 Beacon Street, Suite 507 Boston, MA 02108 617-248-0922 617-248-0902 (fax) http://www.janedoe.org National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV) P. O. Box 18749 Denver, CO 890218 303-839-1852 303-831-9251 (fax) http://www.webmerchants.com/ncadv/default.htm Safe Horizon Victim Services Domestic Violence Shelter Tour and Information Site Safe Horizon 2 Lafayette Street New York, NY 10007 212-577-7700 212-385-0331 (fax) http://www.dvsheltertour.org Violence Against Women "Cybrary" (on-line references) http://www.talkjustice.com/links.asp?453053941