Rights of Victims of Domestic Violence  

Ø      You have the right to file a criminal complaint against your attacker.  

Ø      You have the right to go to court to get an order called a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO), which may protect you from more abuse by your attacker.  Your local police can advise you how to obtain a TRO.   

The kinds of things a judge can order in a TRO may include:     

v     that your attacker is temporarily forbidden from entering the home you live in;

v     that your attacker is temporarily forbidden from having contact with you or your relatives;

v     that your attacker is temporarily forbidden from bothering you at work;

v     that you be given temporary custody of your children;

v     that your attacker pay you back any money you have to spend for medical treatment or repairs because of the violence;  

v     There are other things the court can order.  

v     On weekends, holidays and other times when the courts are closed, you still have the right to get a TRO.  The police can explain the procedure to you and assist you in obtaining a TRO.  

    If you need assistance:  

v     For emergency shelter, counseling or referrals, call the Domestic Violence Shelter in your county.  The Burlington County shelter is “Providence House.”  The contact information is listed below.  

v     You may obtain information on lawyer referral by calling the local Bar Association.  The Burlington County Bar Association’s contact information is listed below.  

v     You may also contact the county Office of Victim-Witness Advocacy.  The Burlington County Victim-Witness Unit contact information is listed below.