Hospital to Court Domestic Violence Safety Assistance Project Resources

Hospital

to Court

Domestic Violence

Safety Assistance

Project

Resources

New Jersey Coalition for

Battered Women

info@njcbw.org

National Domestic Violence Hotline

1-800-799-SAFE(7233)

TTY 1-800-787-3224

thehotline.org

National Dating Abuse Hotline

1-866-331-9474

TTY 1-866-331-8453

loveisrespect.org

National Sexual Assault Hotline

1-800-656-HOPE(4673)

womenshealth.gov

A comprehensive

community

response to address

domestic violence

involving the courts,

hospitals and the

domestic

violence service

community

NEW JERSEY JUDICIARY

Stuart Rabner

 Chief Justice

Glenn A. Grant, J.A.D.

 Acting Administrative Director of the Courts

Need Help?

Call the Domestic Violence

Hotline at

1-800-572-7233

or your local police

department

For additional copies, contact the

New Jersey Judiciary

Office of Communications and

Community Relations

(609) 292-9580

njcourts.com

May 2011

CN 11478-English

This project was supported by Grant No. 09RVAWA-22 awarded by

the Office on Violence Against Women, U.S. Department of Justice.

Points of view in this document are those of the author and do not

necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S.

Department of Justice.

Domestic Violence

Prevention Act

New Jersey’s Prevention of Domestic

Violence Act permits all victims of

domestic violence to obtain a restraining

order to protect them from further harm if

someone is hurting them.

You are protected under the law if you are

being abused by your spouse, former

spouse, the co-parent of your child, or if

you are an expectant parent.

You also are protected if you are living

with or have lived with your abuser or if

you are dating or have dated your abuser.

A person can file for a restraining order

where the domestic violence occurred,

where the defendant resides, where the

victim resides or where the victim is

staying temporarily.

A restraining order is an order issued by

the court that is intended to protect a victim

of domestic violence. The provisions

contained in this type of order are based on

the circumstances and vary by case.

A domestic violence complaint is most

often filed at the domestic violence unit of

the Superior Court, family division.

When the Superior Court is closed, a

victim can file a complaint at their local

police department.

How to Begin the Process

Without leaving the hospital, you can

obtain a restraining order during court

hours, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday

through Friday. A social worker or nurse

will begin the process with you and make

the initial contact with the court.

When you file for a restraining order from

the hospital during court hours, a court

professional will assist you over the phone

and over a closed circuit video

conferencing system. An interpreter will

be provided if needed.

A court professional will conduct the initial

interview and assist you in completing your

application for a restraining order.

After your application is complete, you

will appear before a judge or hearing

officer over the video network. This is

when you can discuss your situation with

the judge or hearing officer.

The judge or hearing officer will make a

decision regarding your application for a

temporary restraining order.

If the order is granted, court staff will fax a

temporary restraining order to the hospital

for your signature.

Carry the order with you at all times.

After the Hearing

At the conclusion of the hearing, the judge

or hearing officer will provide you with

additional information about the court

process and other available resources. The

hearing officer will set a date for you to

appear in court to obtain a final restraining

order.

CARRY THE ORDER WITH YOU AT

ALL TIMES. IF THE ABUSER DOES

NOT OBEY THE ORDER, CALL THE

POLICE.

If you need domestic violence services

such as counseling, shelter, crisis

intervention, referrals for legal services and

related information, call the Domestic

Violence Hotline at 1-800-572-7233. The

hotline is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a

year.

Local Resources

NJ Coalition for Battered Women: 1-609-584-8104

Statewide Victim Notification: 1-877-VINE-4-NJ

NJ Victim Witness Advocacy: 1-609-292-6766

Victim Crime Compensation: 1-877-658-2221

Legal Services of New Jersey: 1-888-576-5529

Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK

24 Hour Parent Stressline: 1-800-THE-KIDS

NJ Family Care: 1-800-701-0710

NJ Addictions Hotline: 1-800 238-2333

DYFS Reporting Hotline: 1-877-NJABUSE