What Should I Do If I Get Involved in a Domestic Violence Situation?

STEP #1: Call 911. The rule in domestic violence situations is this: Whoever makes the first call to 911 wins. The police will likely believe the caller’s story, and nothing the other person says will change their minds.

STEP #2: If someone has already called 911 alleging YOU are the aggressor, leave immediately. Do not stay to “straighten it out” with the police. If you’ve been drinking, the police will note this fact and it will be used against you later. In domestic violence situations, the law requires that the police arrest one of the parties. Guess who that will be.

STEP #3: Leave the residence/home and stay away for at least 24 hours. The police are obligated to search for you for up to 24 hours, so walking down the street and sitting at a bus stop isn’t going to do it. Go stay in a motel for the night, and do not go back to the residence/home where the original incident occurred.

STEP #4: NEVER, EVER violate a No-Contact or Anti-Harassment Order. Even if the “protected” party is your wife and she invites you back, do not go back. If you are caught violating one of these orders, you will be charged with a new crime, and will probably face a probation violation. No Contact means: No phone calls, no messages thru relatives, no emails, no mail, no smoke signals, no text messages, no faxes -- NO contact of any kind. Period.