Family
Violence Unit The
Family Violence unit is a specialy investigative division under the direction
of of the St Joseph County Prosecutors Office. Crimes agains family and children
are investigated, including incidents of battery, domestic violence and assaults
and abuse involving children.
The FVU office is committed to serving St.
Joseph County families who have experience any type of domestic abuse. In an effort
to fulfill this commitment, the Family Violence/Special Victims Unit offers the
following services free of charge:
* Assistance in filling out paperwork for
protective orders.
* ADT pendant alarms
* 911 cellular phones
* Answering
machines
* Individual case management/advocacy and referrals
You do
not deserve to be hit, threatened, or sexually assaulted. Do not suffer alone.
Please call 574.235.7818 if you are interested in any of these services.
Warning Signs Has your partner ever...
* hit, grabbed, strangled, bitten,
burned, slapped or pushed you?
* used a gun or knife or some kind of weapon
against you?
* hit you with some object like a bat or pan or belt?
* hit,
held or squeezed you so hard that it left a bruise?
* threatened to hurt or
to kill you or your children or your friends?
* withheld money, food, medicine
or transportation from you?
* called you names, made you feel ashamed of yourself,
humiliated you?
* put you down in front of your children, your friends, your
boss?
* forced you to have sex when you did not want to?
* forced you
to perform sexual acts you did not want to?
* destroyed or broken your possessions?
* threatened to harm or kill himself if you do or don't do something?
*
abuses or kills pets?
Safety Plan Safety during an explosive incident:
* Identify which door, window or stairwell offers the quickest way out of
your home. Practice your route.
* Find neighbors that you can tell about the
violence and ask that they call the police if they hear a disturbance. Safety
when preparing to leave:
* Have a bag packed and ready. Keep it hidden but
easy to get to. For instance, at the house of a trusted friend or relative.
*
Leave money, an extra set of keys, copies of important documents, extra medicines
and clothes with someone you trust so you can leave quickly.
Frequently
Asked Questions about Protective Orders
If you are filing for a Protection
Order for yourself, you will need the following forms:
Protective Order
Form Packet
Be sure to read the Frequently Asked Questions about Protective
Orders before completing the online forms.
Important Phone Numbers
For Emergencies, Call 911
South
Bend Police Department 235-9201
Mishawaka Police Department 258-1678
St.
Joseph County Police Department 235-9611
Filing Protective Orders
(M-F, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.)
Small Claims - South Bend 235-9794 Small Claims
- Mishawaka 256-6214
Assistance With Protective Orders
Family Violence/Special
Victims Unit 235-7818
YWCA 233-9491 (ext. 324)
Shelters
YWCA
Shelter 232-9558
Center for the Homeless 282-8700
Hope Rescue Mission
288-4842
Legal Assistance Prosecuting Attorney 235-9544
Legal Services
234-8121
Notre Dame Legal Aid Clinic 631-7795
Lawyer's Referral Service
235-9657
District 2 Pro Bono Committee 235-5354
Counseling Madison Center
234-0061
Sex Offense Services 289-4357
Secure Counseling Services 235-0044
Mental Health Association of St. Joseph County 234-1049
Hotlines
Local D.V. Crisis Hotline 232-9558
Statewide D.V. Hotline 800-332-7385
National D.V. Hotline 800-799-7233
Support Services
Family
Violence/Special Victims Unit 235-5443
La Casa de Amistad 233-2120 YWCA Shelter
233-9558
YWCA Mother With Infant Program 233-9491
Information
above provided courtesy of the St Joseph County
Prosecutors Office
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