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6405 Metcalf Avenue, Suite 507
Shawnee Mission, Kansas 66202

Phone:  913.432.9444
Fax:913.432.9004
medicine@msjwc.org

Domestic Violence - Know Your Options
Sponsored by the Johnson County Medical Society and the Johnson County Bar Association

What is Abuse?

Abuse is a powerful, controlling behavior that forces the victim to do what the abuser wants without regard to the victim's rights, body, or health.

Battering and Physical Assault: Throwing objects, pushing, hitting, slapping, kicking, choking, beating up, or attacking with a weapon; forcing the victim to perform humiliating acts.

Sexual Assault: Abuse of the vaginal area or forced intercourse (whether vaginal, oral, or anal); any sexual activity to which the victim does not consent.

Did you know...?

• that without intervention, one incident of abuse will likely lead to another?
• that the effects of verbal abuse often remain long after the physical signs of abuse have faded?
• that children do not have to be abused or actually witness abuse to feel its affects?
• that children who witness abuse in their homes are much more likely to be abusers or be abused as adults?

Common Profile of an Abusive Relationship

Victims often...

• accept responsibility for the batterer's actions.
• fear that no one will be able to help or change their situation.
• assume the abuse will end if the batterers stop drinking /abusing drugs.
• become dependent on their abuser financially and emotionally.
• believe abuse is a one-time incident - it will never happen again.

Abusers often...

• blame others for their actions
• feel they are entitled to control their partners and that their partners are supposed to obey.
• deny they have a problem and try to minimize the effects of their violence on their partners.
• believe they are moral people even though they use violence.

The Battered Person's Fear

The fears battered persons experience are real and legitimate.

• A battered person typically has fears that may keep them in a violent relationship, such as:

• no one will believe them

• every one will blame them

• abuser will take the children

• justice system will treat them unfairly

• lack of protection for themselves or their loved ones.

Cycle Theory of Violence

Tension Building -- Abusive Incident -- Honeymoon Phase -- Tension Building...

What is a Protection Order?

You have been abused by someone you live or have lived with and want as order to protect you from further abuse. If the judge believes it is appropriate, a Protection From Abuse Order may:

• restrain defendant from further abuse;

• restrain the defendant's access to your residence;

• give temporary custody of the children to you;

• restrain the defendant from your place of employment;

• order defendant to pay child support and/or return your property.

Johnson County District Attorney Victim Assistance Unit will assist you in filing these forms.

Help is Available