S~A~V~E~O~N~E
Safety Plans
Keeping yourself safe is the first thing you should do. Having a safety plan that you can rely on and a safe place to go if you need one is important if you feel you are in an at risk relationship.
Safety plans ensure that you will be prepared in the event that you are faced with an emergency situation or are unable to go home.
For assistance on safety plans, contact an advocacy agency. There are an number of these listed on the Resources tab of this site. They are familiar with these issues and can help you form a plan.
Click for assistance with personal safety planning.
Protection
Orders
Protection Orders are a court order that states the abuser cannot get within so many feet of you. There are two different types of these orders. A Relief From Abuse Order can be requested if your abuser is a family member or if you've had a relationship with them. If these two conditions do not apply to you and you are being abused you can seek a Complaint Against Stalking or Sexual Assault.
These orders are often called restraining orders, and can state that the abusive person cannot abuse you, or come within a certain distance of your residence, car, school and/or place of work. In emergency situations, protection orders can be granted through assistance from the police. If you do not want to go to the police but still would like help getting one you should go to an advocacy agency in your town and they will help you. An advocate may even go to court with you if that needs to happen. Getting a protection order is not something that should be taken lightly and should only happen if you feel that your safety is at risk.