Hawaii Violence Prevention

You’ve made the right step and left an abusive relationship. This is never an easy thing to do, but it was the right thing. For many women, it takes more than one attempt before they’re able to leave an abusive relationship for good. There’s never any excuse for a man to hit a woman.

Don’t ever let your guard down when you’re walking away from a bad situation. There are multiple safety tips to follow after leaving an abusive relationship.

Immediately change your cell phone and house number.The last thing you need are threatening phone calls. You should also be careful when using wireless internet and putting your information online.

If the abuse was extremely violent, you should think about getting a restraining order against your ex. Getting a restraining order means that if he goes within a certain amount of feet of you, it will be illegal. But keep in mind that a restraining doesn’t always mean he won’t contact you, but if he tries, he could be arrested. Always, always keep a copy of the restraining order in your purse or pocket all the time.

If there is a place where he goes to frequently, try not to go there. If you feel really uncomfortable and worried about breaking into your home, think about moving to a different area. Make sure anyone who has the new address doesn’t give it to him.

Make sure your home is safely secured each night. It’s often recommended to install an alarm system and a camera with lighting outside if needed. This might seem extreme, but this is your safety you’re trying to protect.

Let your neighbors know about the situation and if they ever see your ex showing up to your house have them contact the police immediately.

No matter what type of violence is taking place, whether it is emotional, physical, or otherwise, all individuals should free themselves of these types of situations. Many women in particular feel restricted in their freedoms, partially due to the fact that they have probably been downtrodden and abused for long periods of time prior to even considering leaving the situation they are in. Additionally, because victims of abuse are often told that they deserve the abuse or have committed a behavior that initiates the abuse, the victims will often justify their partner’s behavior in order to rationalize that they are at fault for the violent act. This is not true. No one, regardless of what behavior they feel may instigate violence, should be punished in this way. Relationships only work when partners are equal and discuss their problems instead of resorting to physical or emotional violence in order for one partner to have dominance over the other.

It is nearly impossible to prevent violence, because someone who has turned to abuse in the past to deal with problems and frustrations will usually choose to abuse again regardless of what steps one may take to avoid it. However, some individuals have found peace through religion and other types of faith, or other support groups within the community. There are groups and assistance available for both the victims as well as those who have abused in the past and wish to get help to stop. However, those who have abused must be prepared to face the consequences of their actions; this is a serious crime and they must be aware of that fact. No one who abuses will get off easy, but paying for the crime in the legal system is often the first step in getting help and beginning the road to maintaining healthy and happy relationships.