The D.O.V.E. Unit
Enforcement, Prosecution, Advocacy |
|
Family Violence is a Crime! Family
violence includes causing physical harm or threatening physical harm, use of
force to coerce you to do or not to do something, verbal abuse, and sexual
abuse of any family member or intimate partner. YOU
HAVE A RIGHT NOT TO BE ABUSED. YOU
HAVE THE RIGHT TO BE SAFE. If you are assaulted: ü
Go to a safe place. ü
Call 911 immediately. ü
Don’t move or disturb anything in the area where
the assault occurred. The police may want to take photos of the scene
for evidence. ü
Go to a hospital emergency department for medical
care. ü
Don’t blame yourself. The person who
committed the assault is responsible. ü
Apply for an Ex Parte Order of Protection. ü
You may want to seek professional counseling,
information, and legal assistance from the DOVE unit to help you deal with the
consequences of the assault. Boone
County has a Domestic Violence Enforcement Unit (D.O.V.E. Unit) who's
mission is to decrease the level of domestic violence, by investigating
domestic violence cases, promoting deterrence of violence, assisting victims,
and interrupting the cycle of violence. The DOVE Unit, which is housed
at the Columbia Police Department, is a specialized unit comprised of three
investigators, two advocates, and two Assistant Prosecuting Attorneys. If
you have been the victim of assault, there is help available! Remember: ·
You are NOT the cause of someone else’s abusive
behavior ·
You do NOT deserve to be abused ·
You DO have the right to expect and demand help
and respect ·
You DO have the right to think, feel, and make
choices and changes! Internet Safety Warning – Find out how to keep others from knowing that
you have visited this web site: http://www.abanet.org/domviol/internet.html |