CONTENTS

About This Course

Table of Contents

1. Getting The Basics
2. Substance Abuse
3. Violence Against Women
4. Violent Men
5. Alcohol and Violence
6. Alcohol, Drugs and Sexual Assault (Date Rape)
7. Preventing Sexual Assault
8. After a Rape or Sexual Assault
9. Assistance - Women
10. Assistance - Men
11. Legal Options

Supplements
Resources
Glossary
Fact Sheets

It Won't Happen to Me:
Substance Abuse-Related Violence Against Women for Anyone Concerned About The Issues

Legal Remedies Within States

Protection orders are good in all States and U.S. Territories.

Civil protection orders² are now available to battered women in every state and the District of Columbia. They are available, primarily, to prevent the abuser from continuing to abuse the victim, from having any contact with the victim, and providing the victim and her children emergency relief. For intimate partner violence and dating violence, each state has its own laws regarding Civil Protective Orders (also called restraining orders, stay away orders, or "no contact orders") and Ex Parte Orders.

Protection orders are good in all jurisdictions within the United States, Indian tribal lands, D.C. and the U.S. Virgin Islands etc. Local domestic violence or victim assistance centers can provide information regarding the laws in your State. To locate your state's resources or local coalitions against domestic violence, you can go to the National Domestic Violence Hotline or University of Minnesota: Violence Against Women Online Resources.

Victimized women are eligible for special treatment under the law, including removal of the abuser from her home (Ex Parte and Protective Orders). While each state may differ slightly in whom they include as "victims," generally, eligible victims include:

• a current or ex-spouse,
• a co-habitant (someone who has lived in the same house or apartment as a sexual partner for at least 90 days in the last 365 days),
• a child (in 3/4 of states),
• a person related to the abuser by blood, marriage or adoption,
• a parent or stepparent who has resided with the abuser for 90 days within the past year,
• a "vulnerable adult" (an adult who lacks the capacity to care for her physical or mental well being and daily needs), and/or
• an individual with a child in common with the abuser.

Some states include dating relationships while others do not. The list above is a general representation only. It is not meant to represent any State in particular.