So often, victims of domestic violence don’t know where to turn when they have made the decision to leave an abusive relationship. The Center for Family Justice can help them through those complicated, and sometimes daunting, steps.
Sally* came to The Center for Family of Justice as a walk-in. She was referred to CFJ after the police were called due to an altercation with her husband just a few days before.
There had been a long history of emotional, verbal, and financial abuse by her husband and Sally wanted a divorce. CFJ’s staff began the process to help Sally out of her situation.
The CFJ court advocate assisted her in filing for a restraining order and referred Sally to CFJ’s Legal Services Program to start the divorce process.
A full, no-contact restraining order was eventually granted at a court hearing and the offender was ordered to not come within 100 yards of Sally, nor have any contact with her via phone or social media. Despite the court order, Sally’s abusive husband continued to harass her, and she was afraid to leave her house.
Sally told her advocate that her abuser drove past her house several times a day, had broken into her house and had stolen items, continually texted her, harassed her via Facebook and harassed her family.
In order to protect Sally, her advocate assisted her in filing an application with our community partner Bridgeport Ladies Charitable Society (BLCS) for assistance to pay a locksmith to change her locks. BLCS granted the request, and Sally felt much safer. She has asked for help to move away from the abuser. Sally was referred to our CFJ Housing Advocate for assistance.
All of us at CFJ are working tirelessly with Sally until the abuser is brought to justice, arrested and Sally is relocated in a new home far from the abuser.
*Name has been changed to protect the identity of the client.
HOTLINE NUMBERS:
Domestic Abuse Hotline: 203.384.9559
Sexual Assault Hotline: 203.333.2233
Main Number: 203.334.6154
