| you recently made the important decision to leave an | | | | alarms and surveillance cameras. |
| abusive partner? This wise step can seem like a giant | | | | Personal Safety - Your safety may be in jeopardy |
| leap into the unknown. Besides the emotional aspects | | | | not just at work and at home, but anywhere you go |
| of leaving a bad relationship, there are also safety | | | | throughout the day. Prepare yourself with a canister |
| considerations. You don't know how your partner will | | | | of pepper spray, a stun gun, or a personal alarm. |
| react, and there is a chance leaving will put you in | | | | Consider self defense training to give you the |
| harm's way, making this step a bit scary. It is | | | | confidence to stand up to your abuser. Do not be |
| important to take the necessary steps to protect | | | | afraid to call the police if you feel threatened or in |
| your safety, both before and after you leave the | | | | danger – remember, they are there to |
| relationship, as you develop a plan for starting your | | | | protect you. You don't have to go through this alone. |
| new life. | | | | Legal Help - File for a protection order or restraining |
| At Work - Let the security staff in your building | | | | order so that your abuser cannot legally contact you. |
| know about the situation. Provide a picture of your | | | | Keep a copy of the order with you at all times in |
| abuser so that they can keep him out of the office. | | | | case your abuser does confront you. Call the police |
| You may also want to let your supervisor, manager, | | | | right away if this happens, even if you feel relatively |
| or HR advisor know of the situation so that they can | | | | safe at the moment. If you have children, fight for |
| help to protect you. Ask a coworker to escort you | | | | sole custody of them, and then inform the school |
| to your car or bus in case your abuser is waiting | | | | and other caregivers that you are the only one with |
| outside to confront you. You may want to ask for a | | | | permission to pick them up. |
| change in work hours, and take different routes to | | | | Statistically, domestic violence occurs in one out of |
| work, so that your partner cannot find you there. | | | | six relationships. It is extremely likely that you, or |
| At Home - Let your landlord and your neighbors | | | | someone you are close to, has been or will be |
| know that your partner no longer lives there, and | | | | subjected to domestic violence. Though this problem |
| that they should call police if they see him there. | | | | is often kept quiet, in cases of abuse it is critical to |
| Living in the same residence you shared with your | | | | protect the personal safety of the abused, even for |
| abuser is one of the most dangerous parts of leaving | | | | years after they leave the relationship. In fact, the |
| an abusive relationship. Change the locks right away, | | | | most dangerous time for an abused women is after |
| and install security features such as door and window | | | | she leaves the relationship. |