Resource Guide to Domestic Violence Help in New Jersey

NJ domestic violence resources

Are you or someone you know looking for a domestic violence shelter or safe house? Want to know more about the process of obtaining a restraining order? Desperate to start building a future for you and your children that’s free from abusive and controlling behavior? New Jersey is home to a number of shelters and victim advocacy groups that provide assistance to victims of intimate partner violence and domestic abuse. You are not alone. Help is available. The following list contains individual referral contacts for shelters (arranged by county) and links to further information, including how to keep your privacy intact during this trying time. Read more

Same-Sex Domestic Violence: How To Get Help

same-sex domestic violenceBecause domestic violence has been traditionally viewed as something that happens only to heterosexual women, instances of same-sex domestic violence (DV) or intimate partner violence (IPV) in the LGBT community are often overlooked. People assume it just doesn’t happen.

But it does.

As reports consistently show, at least one out of four people in same-sex relationships will experience domestic violence during their lifetime, mirroring rates among heterosexual couples. Sadly, LGBT victims are frequently reluctant to go the police, often because of perceived stigma or fear that help for same-sex couples is not readily available.

It’s time to dispel the myths surrounding same-sex DV. Let’s look an all-too-common DV scenario involving a LGBT couple and explore how the victim in this situation can reach out for needed help and protection. Read more

Domestic Violence Charges Dropped Against NJ Celebrity Constantine Maroulis

domestic violenceA local news story that many have asked us about this week involves the domestic violence charges, now dropped, against former American Idol singer and Bergen County resident, Constantine Maroulis. We would like to preface our comments by noting the sensitivity of any discussion that involves domestic violence. The charges against Mr. Maroulis have been dismissed. Still, the nature of the original incident and claims of abuse by both spouses (aka, “mutual abuse”) brings up interesting points that may be beneficial for others seeking help with domestic violence issues. Read more

How To Get Help When You’re A Male Victim Of Domestic Violence

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If you think a woman could never abuse a man, think again. According to a 2010 CDC report, 40% of DV victims are male – that’s over 2 million men in America who have experienced severe physical violence by an intimate partner. Read more

Divorcing A Narcissist: 5 Strategies For Getting Through It

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One of the most overwhelming things about going through a divorce is trying to wade through all the information about how to do it the “right” way and decide what’s right for you. Well-meaning friends and family may give you advice that tends to apply to someone with a reasonable ex. But what if you don’t have one of those? When you have a spouse who tends to be a narcissist, it can mean that you may in for additional stress or all-out war in your divorce…unless you learn how to defuse this high conflict personality type. What works to keep tension in check? Here are five strategies to help you get through your divorce from a narcissist with your sanity intact. Read more

Super Bowl Domestic Violence Commercial Wants To Get You Talking – And Listening

Has Super Bowl Sunday become a new kind of Domestic Violence Awareness Day? Since video of former Baltimore Ravens player Ray Rice assaulting his then fiancée and now wife surfaced in the fall, much public debate and conversation has taken place around the NFL’s response when professional football players are charged with domestic violence. Since this fall’s public outcry, the NFL has moved forward with a stricter six-game sanction for any player’s first DV offense, and a lifetime ban for the player should further offenses occur.

The NFL also committed itself to domestic violence awareness and prevention, and to prove it, the organization has donated a block of air time during this Sunday’s Super Bowl to air a groundbreaking public service commercial from NO MORE, a public advocacy campaign aimed at stopping domestic violence. Read more

Domestic Violence and Abuse in New Jersey: Where to Find the Help You Need

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As we recently depicted in “Faces of Domestic Violence,” it is not always easy to identify domestic abuse, especially in its more subtle forms. This means that often, people in the grip of this problem delay seeking help until a situation has become overwhelming or dangerous. Without professional help, signs of abuse rarely disappear and frequently worsen over time. In this post, we are urging you to take action at the first sign of a problem.

What kind of help should you seek and where? Read more

In Aftermath of Ray Rice Assault, NJ Lawmakers Introduce 3 New Domestic Violence Bills

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In her most recent post for the Huffington Post, WLG’s Bari Weinberger analyzed the outcome of the Ray Rice domestic violence case, calling for improvements to New Jersey domestic violence law.

Members of the New Jersey Legislature are now following suit by introducing three new domestic violence bills in direct response to Rice’s placement in a pre-trial intervention program, which if successfully completed, will wipe from his record any mention of charges stemming from Rice’s assault on his then-fiancée in an Atlantic City casino. Read more

Faces of Domestic Violence: Three Very Different Stories

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One of the most difficult aspects of domestic violence is that it affects a victim’s ability to take self-protective measures. Some people are uncertain whether or not their situation even amounts to domestic violence. Others are simply overwhelmed by their emotional or financial entanglement with the perpetrator.

If you are in either of these situations, it can help to take things one step at a time. If you are in physical danger, your first step is clear: Call 911 or the NJ Domestic Violence Hotline at 1 (800) 572-SAFE (7233). You can also call the hotline if you just have questions about your (or someone else’s) situation, or you can contact an experienced domestic violence attorney free of charge.

While the most obvious domestic violence scenarios involve physical violence, there are actually 14 distinct offenses covered by the New Jersey Prevention of Domestic Violence Act, N.J.S.A.2C:25-17 et seq. (NJPDVA).

Here are three very different NJ domestic violence case studies: Read more