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Domestic Violence Services of Cumberland & Perry Counties
24 Hour Hotline 1-800-852-2102     24 Hour Emergency Shelter
Did you know?
Legal Advocacy

Advocacy and systems monitoring directed toward the goal of justice for victims of domestic violence. Legal advocacy seeks to enhance the safety of domestic violence victims and their children, to assure the responsiveness of community systems-particularly the justice system-to the needs of domestic violence victims, to hold abusers accountable for their violence, and to help prevent violence in the family.

Advocates:
  • Provide moral support to victims of domestic violence.
  • Assist victims of domestic violence with safety planning and in options pertaining to legal, housing, and other needs important to the victim.
  • Assist victims of domestic violence in obtaining Protection from Abuse Orders.
  • Accompany victims of domestic violence to court appointed hearings or other appointments important to the victim.
  • Advocate for/assist victims of domestic violence with criminal justice system, the welfare system, and with the immigration system.
  • Advocate to hold abusers accountable and to help prevent violence in the family.

Victims of domestic violence are eligible for several types of services and legal recourse. The most frequently requested legal action is the Protection From Abuse Order (PFA).

**Please see the FAQ Page for complete definition of the PFA.

PFA’s are available at DVS/CP to eligible clients. **Please see the FAQ Page for eligibility requirements.

Custody Issues

Custody arrangements may be made through a private attorney, legal services, but not through DVS/CP. The staff at DVS/CP can refer clients to other agencies for supervised visitation sites, legal counsel, and child support payments.
Medical Advocacy

Domestic violence is a very serious health care issue. Medical advocacy works to provide the necessary information to medical and emergency medical personnel to recognize signs of abuse and to screen all patients for domestic violence. The medical community can utilize these tools in order to effectively understand, identify, and assess potential victims of domestic violence. They can then refer victims to appropriate agencies for services.

Medical professionals have a unique and critical opportunity to provide information that can be the first step in developing a plan to protect the safety and health of a victim of domestic violence. Once victims are identified, medical practitioners need to be prepared with guidelines on clinical documentation, policies, and protocol. The medical advocate works with area health service providers to prepare them with this information.

Call 258-4806 for more information.
Myth:
Unless my partner physically hits me, I'm not in an abusive relationship...

Fact:
Violence takes all forms. It can include...

Emotional Abuse: Ignoring, humiliating, embarrassing, insulting, excluding or using social status as a weapon.

Verbal Abuse: Shouting, threatening, intimidating, or manipulating.

Physical Abuse: pushing, shoving, hitting, kicking, punching or threatening with a weapon.

Sexual Abuse: forced kissing or touching, any unwanted sexual acts, unprotected sex, and rape.
SAFETY ALERT: Computer use can be tracked and monitored. Please review safety tips.