Are You a Victim of Domestic Violence

Phone: 1-888-572-7775
www.bleausa.org
405 Tarrytown Rd # 1318
White Plains, NY 10607

Blacks In Law Enforcement of
America
As Black Law Enforcement
Professionals our mission is
to uphold the laws of New
York State. However, as natu-
ral leaders it is our moral,
ethical and human duty to
reach and teach our families
and youth by providing in-
creased involvement and sup-
port to them, thereby enrich-
ing their lives and enhancing
our community.
Blacks In Law Enforcement of
America
Tel: 1-888-572-7775
The New York Chapter of the Blacks
in Law Enforcement of America
mission is to uphold the laws of the
State of New York. However, as
natural leaders it is our moral, ethical
and human duty to reach and teach
our families and youth by providing
increased involvement and support to
them, thereby enriching their lives
and enhancing our community.
Are you a Vitim of
Domestic Violence?

A Citizens Plan
of Action
Blacks In Law
Enforcement For
Community Uplift

What are signs of Domestic Violence?

Physical Abuse
Hitting, slapping, kicking, choking, pushing, punching,
beating, forcing you to leave and locking you out of the
house.

Verbal Abuse

Constant criticism, making humiliating remarks, using
abusive language, not responding to what you are say-
ing, mocking, name-calling, yelling, swearing, interrupt-
ing, changing the subject.

Disrespect

Interrupting, changing topics, not listening or respond-
ing, twisting your words, telling you what to think and
how you should feel, putting you down in front of other
people, saying bad things about your friends and family.

Minimizing, Denying & Blaming

Making light of behavior and not taking your concerns
about it seriously, saying the abuse didn't happen, shift-
ing responsibility for abusive behavior, saying you
caused it.

Sexual Violence

Forcing sex on an unwilling partner; demanding sexual
acts that you do not want to perform, degrading treat-
ment.

Isolation

Preventing or making it hard for you to see friends and
relatives, monitoring phone calls, reading mail, control-
ling where you go, taking your car keys.

Harassment

Following you, or stalking you, embarrassing you in
public; constantly checking up on you, refusing to leave
when asked.



The principal concerns of the National Black Police Associ-
ation are the promotion of justice, fairness, effectiveness of
law enforcement issues, and the effect of those issues upon
the total community The NBPA exists to help law enforce-
ment agencies to be sensitive to the needs and concerns of
minorities, women, and the poor

This pamphlet is meant to provide you with information to
help you determine if your rights have been violated by the
police. You should not use this pamphlet as a legal docu-
ment. If you feel your rights have been violated, you should
seek legal counsel immediately.

What is Domestic Violence?

Domestic Violence is a violent confron-
tation between family or household
members involving physical harm, sexual assault, or fear of
physical harm. Family or household members include spous-
es / former spouses, those in (or formerly in) a dating rela-
tionship, adults related by blood or marriage, and those who
have a biological or legal parent-child relationship.

Domestic Violence is a growing epidemic in our Country

National studies estimate that 3 to 4 million women are beat-
en each year in our country. A study conducted in 1995
found that 31% of women surveyed admitted to having been
physically assaulted by a husband or boyfriend. Domestic
violence is the leading cause of injury to women between
the ages of 15 and 44 in our country, and the FBI estimates
that a woman is beaten every 15 seconds. Thirty percent of
female homicide victims are killed by partners or ex-
partners and 1,500 women are murdered as a result of do-
mestic violence each year in the United States.

Domestic Violence occurs across racial, economical and
educational lines

Studies of domestic violence consistently have found that
battering occurs among all types of families, regardless of
income, profession, region, ethnicity, educational level or
race. However, the fact that lower income victims and abus-
ers are over-represented in calls to police, battered women's
shelters and social services may be due to a lack of other
resources.



Economic Control

Not paying bills, refusing to give you money, hiding or
withholding financial resources, not letting you work if
that's what you choose to do, interfering with your job,
taking your car keys or otherwise preventing you from
using the car, refusing to work and support the family.

Threats and Intimidation

Threatening to harm you, your children, family members
and pets; using physical size to intimidate, shouting; stand-
ing in the door way during arguments to stop you from
leaving; keeping weapons and threatening to use them.

What to do if you are a Victim of
Domestic Violence?
Your Plan of Action!

1. Call 911 and report the incident.
Write down the police report/incident number and
keep with your records.

2. If necessary, seek medical attention. Have injuries
documented and photographed.

3. Go to a safe place such as a domestic violence shelter.

4. Seek the support of caring people. Tell someone you
trust about the abuse. They may be your friend, a family
member, a neighbor, a co-worker, or staff members of
support agencies. Talk to them in a private, safe place.
You do not need to face abuse alone.

5. File for a Protective Order that will tell your abuser to
stay away.

When you decide to get help, find a support system that
works for you. A trusted friend, family member, or profes-
sional can help you devise a safety plan and find a safe
place for you to stay, if necessary.

If you are a victim of abuse, you are not alone. You have
the right to be safe! You are not responsible for violent
behavior! No one deserves to be beaten or threatened!
Domestic violence destroys the home. The responsibility
for the violence belongs to the abuser. It is not the
victim's fault!