October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. 10,000,000 Americans are victims of domestic violence every year. 1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men will experience domestic violence in their lifetime.
The Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence (PCADV) alone serves 90,000 victims of domestic violence per year.
As reported by PCADV, over 1,500 Pennsylvanians died from domestic violence in the past decade, with 106 killed in 2024 alone.
Domestic Violence Awareness Month is about recognizing victims and celebrating survivors of domestic violence, as we strive to stem abuse and provide relief to those experiencing it.
Legal aid can be an effective tool to assist victims of domestic violence. Multiple studies, including one from Jacqueline Lee and Bethany L. Backes noted that civil legal aid “can significantly improve outcomes for DV [domestic violence] and IPV [intimate partner violence] victims."
In the past fiscal year, NPLS and our volunteer attorneys represented thousands of clients in civil legal matters who were victims of crime, many of them domestic violence survivors.
NPLS and our volunteer attorneys provided advice and representation to hundreds of clients navigating the justice system, and helped clients in 532 cases obtain protective orders. Pro bono attorneys assist with representation of domestic abuse survivors. For example, last year volunteers helped with 384 cases and 150 of those were related to representation in PFA court.
In most cases, an individual files for a protective order themselves, first seeking a temporary protection order and then a hearing is scheduled while the opposing party is served with the complaint. The statutes define who can file for relief.
In a PFA action, for example, a person can file for a PFA against someone they share an intimate relationship with, whether that is a parent, child, current/former spouse, or a current/former sexual or intimate partner. A PFA can do a number of things, but it generally will prohibit someone from having contact with the protected person and/or prohibit them from abusing, stalking, harassing, or threatening a protected person. You must be 18 years old or an emancipated minor to obtain a PFA. Otherwise, a parent or guardian must file on your behalf.
Another type of protection order is a Sexual Violence Protection Order (SVPO). This applies to those who want protection from someone they do not have an intimate relationship with, which means the abuser cannot be a parent, child, or a current/former spouse or intimate partner. An SVPO can help victims of sexual abuse and assure that the abuser cannot have contact with the protected person.
Finally, a Protection from Intimidation Order (PFIO) can be filed by a minor (those under 18 years old) against an adult to protect against harassment or stalking. However, the adult cannot be a family or household member.
If you file for a protection order, you will have to see a judge who will ask you questions about the incident. If the judge believes you are in immediate danger, the judge can grant a Temporary Protection Order, which will bar the person from contacting you until the date of your hearing. The hearing will take place within 10 days of filing for the protection order.
At the hearing, you must present evidence to the judge, such as your own testimony or testimonies from witnesses, photos of injuries or damaged property, threatening or abusive written, text, or audio messages from the abuser, or bills showing financial losses due to damage from the abuser. The other side will have an opportunity to present a defense and both sides can cross-examine witnesses.
A protection order is granted for a set time, up to three years. It can be extended if the individual the order was granted against committing further abusive acts.
Protection orders are an effective means to combat domestic violence. There are other important safety measures that victims of domestic violence should consider and it is so important to seek advice on safety planning specific to their situation with help from domestic violence agencies and local law enforcement.
Throughout the Commonwealth, communities are hosting events this month raising awareness. For example, Turning Point of Lehigh Valley is hosting its annual vigil on October 30 at Ben Franklin TechVentures in Bethlehem to honor those effected by domestic violence.
Awareness is an important step in educating each other and empowering survivors. NPLS encourages everyone to find a local activity in your neighborhood to participate in as we make sure those who need it have access to resources and advocates who seek to address and prevent domestic violence in our communities.
