ABA Family Legal Guide

Family Law

Marriage

Domestic Violence

Where does one turn for help in cases of domestic violence?

In a crisis situation, a call to 911 or the police is a good start. Many people complain that police do not take accusations of domestic violence seriously. That may be true in some circumstances, but on the whole, police treat domestic violence situations seriously, and police officers are receiving increased training on dealing with domestic violence. The local state's attorney or district attorney may also be able to offer some help. An increasing number of hospitals, crisis intervention programs, and social service agencies have programs to help victims of domestic violence. Agencies offering help in cases of domestic violence might be found in the yellow pages under "Domestic Violence Intervention," "Human Services Organizations," or "Crisis Intervention."