Domestic Violence
No one deserves to be abused or assaulted. Combating physical and sexual violence is a priority at the UMass Police Department. We believe in the right of all persons to live without fear, abuse, oppression and violence. We believe that abusers and perpetrators should be held accountable for their actions and we strive to promote deterrence, assist victims and interrupt the cycle of violence.
On-site Advocacy Services for Violence and Abuse Issues
If you are a member of the UMass community or have experienced relationship violence or abuse, sexual assault, or stalking on campus, a Civilian Advocate is available to provide confidential support and advocacy for you. The Advocate can also provide services for victims/survivors affiliated with the Amherst Police Department and has office hours at Center for Women & Community (formerly Everywoman’s Center).
What is a Civilian Advocate?
A Civilian Advocate is someone who is not a police officer but works on-site at the UMass and Amherst Police Departments to provide services for the community. The advocate is an employee of the Center for Women and Community; they specialize in domestic violence, sexual assault and related issues.
Services
The Civilian Advocate provides confidential advocacy, support, safety planning, and referrals to victims/survivors after a crime has been reported to the police department. **They can also assist victims/survivors who have not reported a crime.** If you have questions about the legal system or what happens next in the process, they can help to find the answer and offer support along the way. You can arrange to meet with the advocate at the UMass Police Department, Amherst Police Department, Center for Women & Community, and other locations where you would like support or accompaniment, including district court.
Hours and Contact Information
Advocates are available by appointment approximately 15 hours per week, and can also meet clients at the station at other times upon request.
Work cell phone: Ally, 413-270-0378 or Mariah 413-230-0691
This project was supported by Grant No. 2010-WE-AX-0028 awarded by the Office on Violence Against Women, U.S. Department of Justice.
The opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations expressed in this publication/program/exhibition are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women.
The following programs provide services to victims of domestic violence, including shelter, counseling, support groups, and legal assistance. All of the services are free and confidential, unless noted otherwise.
Below is a list of services within the Western Massachusetts/Pioneer Valley Community, focusing on the Amherst area. Several of the resources below, including Safe Passage, Center for Women & Community and NELCWIT, offer services and support for emotionally unhealthy or abusive relationships whether or not they are physically abusive.
SAFE PASSAGE: Hampshire County’s Domestic Violence Agency. Safe Passages offer support, shelter, counseling, and resources for survivors, children, and families affected by domestic violence. Located in Northampton.
http://www.safepass.org/
24-hour Crisis Hotline: (413) 586-5066 / Office: (413) 586-1125
Center for Women & Community (formerly EWC): Hampshire County’s Rape Crisis Center. The Center for Women & Community Rape Crisis Program also offers support and counseling for those affected by abusive relationships and domestic violence. We work closely with Safe Passage. Located in Amherst.
http://www.umass.edu/women-and-community
24-hour crisis/support line: (413) 545-0800
(TTY) 413-577-0940)
New England Learning Center for Women in Transition (N.E.L.C.W.I.T) Provides domestic violence and rape crisis services for Franklin County, including counseling, advocacy and referrals. Located in Greenfield. 24-hour Crisis Hotline: (413) 772-0806.
NELCWIT also offers a Native American Sexual Violence Prevention and Survivors Service. Call 413-772-0871 for more information.
Womanshelter/Companeras: Domestic violence crisis/support line and bilingual services in English/Spanish. Located in Holyoke and serves the greater Holyoke area. Amherst residents are welcome to call.
24-hour crisis/support line: 1-877-536-1628
Safelink: a Massachusetts Statewide Hotline multilingual, 24-hour service that has info on what shelters currently have space available. http://www.casamyrna.org/
1-877-785-2020
National Domestic Violence Hotline 24-hour hotline, 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or 1-800-787-3224 (TTY)
SAFEPLAN: SAFEPLAN advocates are trained to offer court-based advocacy, including helping victims of domestic violence plan for their safety and obtain 209A restraining orders (also called protective orders) through the courts. You can find a SAFEPLAN advocate at the Belchertown or Northampton Court House during court hours.
Victim/Witness Assistance: As part of the Northwestern District Attorney's Office, Victim/Witness Assistance provides information and advocacy for victims of crime involved in criminal court proceedings, including information on victim compensation and victim rights.
Main Office - Northampton: 413-586-5780.
Satellite Office - Eastern Hampshire District Court, Belchertown: 413-323-5275
http://northwesternda.org/victim-witness-assistance-unit
NOTE: Services are free but not confidential - advocates are employees of the district attorney's office.
In order to get a restraining order, a judge must recognize that you are being abused or afraid of the person you are getting the order against.
Domestic Violence (also called Relationship Violence) can be defined as a pattern of behaviors by an intimate partner that may include physical, sexual, economic and/or emotional abuse, for the purpose of establishing or maintaining power and control over the other partner. While domestic violence occurs in all types of relationships and between people of all genders, it is overwhelmingly a problem of violence perpetrated by men against women.
Physical Abuse can include:
slapping, punching, kicking, use of weapons, throwing objects, denial of physical needs (food, sleep, medical attention) to control or scare partner.
Sexual Abuse can include:
non-consenting sexual acts/behaviors, use of force (including threats/weapons), "guilt-tripping" partner into having sex, degrading or sexually attacking comments aimed at partner, or any touch that is unwanted
Emotional Abuse can include:
blaming partner for everything that goes wrong, controlling what partner does, wears, reads, limiting contact with family & friends, threats of future abuse, telling children, family or friends lies about partner to control or manipulate partner.
***Emotional abuse is often the core of an abusive relationship. There are services available whether or not the abuse becomes physical or a crime has occurred. See our Resources link to find out about services and support.
Economic Abuse can include:
control of assets, car, credit card, refusal to let partner get a job, puts bills in partner's name, then runs up charges, refusal of access to money, food, clothing and other basic needs
Warning Signs
Even though every relationship is different, these common warning signs are often part of a relationship that is abusive. Many abusive relationships include some of these warning signs but may not include all of them. If you think your relationship might be unhealthy or abusive, there is help available. See our Resources link to find out about services and support.
Does your partner:
- Say that you are responsible for your partner’s problems, feelings, or behavior?
- Tease you in a hurtful way in private or in public?
- Call you names?
- Refuse to listen to your opinion while insisting that you see things from his/her perspective?
- Act jealous of your friends, family, or co-workers or try to isolate you from them?
- Try to control what you wear or how you style your hair?
- Check-up on what you’re doing by calling, driving by, or getting someone else to?
- Read your mail or email, check your cell phone log, or go through your personal belongings?
- Act very different when you are alone together than when you are around other people?
- Hit walls, drive dangerously, or do other things that scare you?
- Try to control the money in the relationship (e.g.. keeping you financially dependent or being dependent on you and then messing up your credit)?
- Threaten to hurt you, your children, family, friends, or pets?
- Force you to have sex when you do not want to or in ways that you don’t feel comfortable with?
- Threaten to commit suicide if you leave?
Do you:
- Feel like you're "walking on eggshells" around your partner?
- Feel worse about yourself now than when you started the relationship?
- Feel emotionally or physically unsafe with your partner?
- Have trouble ending the relationship, even though you know inside it's the right thing to do?
When the Police Arrive
Call the police and allow us to assist you
If you believe you are the victim of an abusive relationship or domestic violence, please call the police and allow us to assist you. As the responding officers are en route to your address remember that they are there to help you. Below are some of the issues that the officers will address and what you can expect.
When the Police Arrive
- Tell what has happened and who is involved.
- Tell the location of the suspect. (If known)
- Tell if weapons were involved and there location. (Don’t approach the officer with a weapon)
- Indicate injuries you sustained. (Photos may be taken)
The Officer Will:
- Write a report of the incident that occurred.
- If appropriate, either arrest or criminally charge the abuser with a crime.
The Officer Can Assist in:
- Getting medical attention, if medical attention is needed.
- Obtaining a restraining order.
- Refer you to a service for domestic violence shelter.
- Refer you to other social services as needed.
HELP IS JUST A PHONE CALL AWAY 413-545-2121. IF YOU ARE IN IMMEDIATE DANGER, CALL 911.