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Domestic violence safety tips – Prosecuting Attorney’s Office
Safety planning
Planning for your safety and your children’s safety is important. It may be helpful to discuss a safety plan with a Victim Advocate. Advocates are available for ongoing support or for short-term assistance and can be found at community-based agencies and in many police and prosecution agencies.
Plan ahead
- Recognize the signs of abuse.
- Reach out for support from a trusted friend, family member or a community-based advocate.
- Plan how to get out of the house and how to call 9-1-1 during an incident of abuse.
- Develop a plan with your children. Teach your children how to call 9-1-1.
- Have a safe place to go where the abuser cannot find or get to you.
- Make several copies of important documents and hide them or give them to someone you trust.
- Have important phone numbers written down in case your phone is taken.
- Pack and hide important items in an overnight bag for you and your children (clothes, documents, medication, phone numbers).
- Put aside money and spare keys.
- Consider getting a Protection Order If there are guns in your home, consider removing them and/or the bullets.
- Use a phone of computer that cannot be tracked by the abuser.
Keep evidence
- If you want to report unwanted contact or abuse, save messages for the police when you make a report.
- Maintain a log of abusive and unwanted behavior
- Take pictures of injuries
- Maintain records of hospital visits
During an incident
- Call or text 9-1-1 for help!
- When calling from a cell phone say your location first.
- Get out if you can.
- Bring important documents and information you need while you are away.
- Avoid space only with 1 exit.
- Let the 9-1-1 dispatcher and police know if there are guns in your home.
- If you are concerned about the guns in your home discuss your options with an advocate or law enforcement for temporary safe removal from the home.
In your home
- Change locks, secure doors, and windows
- Change passwords on accounts
- Plan to have someone stay with you.
- Change your phone number and passwords and turn off location options on all digital accounts and devices.
- Change locks, secure doors, and windows Plan to have someone stay with you.
- Change your phone number and passwords and turn off location options on all digital accounts and devices.
- Tell trusted friends, family, and neighbors.
- Check your phone and car for location sharing devices such as "Find My Phone" or a GPS device.
- If you have been choked or strangled within the last 48 hours, a medical exam is encouraged to assess for serious medical issues for free.
At the workplace, school, and public places
- Inform your work, daycare, school, and public places trusted family, friends, and neighbors.
- Give them copies of Protection/No Contact Orders. Change your daily routine.
- Plan for unexpected contact with the abuser.