About
Domestic Violence
Domestic Violence
is the leading cause of injury and death to American women.
It is estimated the 50 percent of all homeless women and children
are fleeing domestic violence.
Children under the
age of 12 reside in 43 percent of households in which domestic
violence is reported. Violence in the home is a major factor
contributing to the growth of reports of child abuse and neglect.
What do
I do if I have been battered?
If you have experienced
an incident of abuse by your partner, the most important fact
to keep in mind is that help exists. Ventura County has resources
for domestic violence victims including crisis lines and shelters.
Therefore, it is important to familiarize yourself with the
following information if you believe that you may be in an
abusive relationship, or even if you believe there is the
slightest possibility.
The first thing
that an abuse victim should do is contact the police. Do not
try to take matters into your own hands or try to resolve
the problem within the family. Law enforcement will make sure
you are safe from any more violence by removing the abuser
from the home, issuing an emergency protective order (lasting
five days) and enforcing any protective orders to make sure
that the abuser does not intimidate or harass you.
Ventura County has
two battered women shelter programs to assist you with temporary
shelter, crisis lines, counseling, support groups. If you
need to leave the house immediately, call the shelter in your
area of assistance. The locations are confidential, and you
will be kept safe. If you are in an abusive relationship and
need advice, the crisis lines are available 24 hours a day.
Their phone numbers are at the end of this section.
If you decide that
living with abuse is no longer an acceptable way of life for
you and your children, the Ventura County District Attorney’s
Crime Victims' Assistance Program can assist you in obtaining
a restraining order. There is no fee for this service, nor
does the County Clerk’s Office charge a filing fee for
domestic violence restraining orders.
Assistance
available through the Crime Victims' Assistance Program:
Restraining order
assistance is offered at no charge in domestic violence matters.
A new addition to
the Crime Victims' Assistance Program is The Family Violence
Prevention Center. The purpose of the center
is to reduce domestic violence and improve the lives of domestic
violence victims.
What if
the abuser has been arrested?
If your abuser has
been arrested and the District Attorney has filed a criminal
case, in an effort to make the criminal justice system more
understandable, accessible and personable, we have made the
following services available to you:
- Criminal Case Information
Confusing as the
criminal justice system may be, we provide victims with the
opportunity to find out exactly what stage the case may be
at with a full explanation as to what that may mean to you.
Confusion and lack of insight into the workings of the justice
system is possibly the most significant barrier individuals
encounter when finding themselves thrown into the system.
We believe that providing victims with case status updates
and orientation significantly reduces the stress and fear
one commonly experiences in being faced with the criminal
justice system.
It is very likely
that you may need the assistance of a therapist to work through
your victimization. Counselors are available, at no charge,
for you to be able to speak with about your victimization
at the District Attorney’s Crime Victim Assistance Program.
If you have incurred
any out-of-pocket medical expenses as a result of your victimization,
our office can assist you in applying for compensation through
the Victim of Crime Compensation Program. The program provides
monetary assistance to victims of violent crime, such as spousal
battery, for medical expenses and therapy expenses, among
others. For more information on this program, click here.
(link to VOC page)
Local Police Agencies:
| Camarillo Police Department |
|
482-9844 |
| Fillmore Police Department |
|
524-2233 |
| Ojai Police Department |
|
646-1414 |
| Oxnard Police Department |
|
385-7600 |
| Port Hueneme Police Department |
|
986-6530 |
| Santa Paula Police Department |
|
525-4478 |
| Simi Valley Police Department |
|
583-6950 |
| Thousand Oaks Police Department |
|
494-8200 |
| Ventura Police Department |
|
339-4400 |
| Ventura County Sheriff's Department |
|
654-2311 |
Local Women’s
Shelters:
Interface Children
and Family Services: (800) 339-9597
Hearing Impaired Number: (805) 983-2803
· Shelter
for women and children
· Counseling for victims, batterers and children
· Support groups for women
· Bilingual services for victims
· Referral services
The Coalition to
End Family Violence: (24 hours): (805) 656-1111
Spanish Hotline:
(800) 300-2181
· Shelter
for women and children
· Counseling for victims, batterers and children
· Support groups for women
· Referral services
|