Victim Assistance Program

What is the Victim Assistance Office?

The City of Olympia has a Victim Assistance Coordinator who can provide assistance to you as a victim of crime. If you are a victim of domestic violence and the abuser's case is being prosecuted at the Olympia Municipal Court, the Victim Assistance Coordinator can give you information about the case and provide you with information on available community resources.

What is Domestic Violence?

Domestic violence is a pattern of behavior used by an individual to establish and maintain control over another partner/person. Domestic violence can consist of physical, sexual, psychological, financial and/or emotional abuse. Domestic violence can involve different kinds of behavior by an abuser that does not necessarily involve a direct assault; the behavior by an abuser can cause you to be scared, fear for your own and/or your children's safety and cause deep emotional pain. Often, the abuser's behavior increases in frequency and can lead to assaults or serious injury. To survive, victims develop coping strategies and survival techniques in an attempt to avoid harm and injury. Abusers will often make victims feel like the situation is their fault or guilty for what occurred; victims will try to alter their own behavior because they feel they are somehow to blame. However, reality is that victims cannot stop the abuse because they are not the ones causing it.

Facts about domestic violence:

Domestic Violence is not consensual and is committed by both adults as well as adolescents.
  • Drugs/ alcohol and stress do not CAUSE domestic violence. There are many people who are stressed, drink alcohol and/or use drugs that are NOT violent.
  • Domestic violence can include acts like malicious mischief (property damage), threats that place you in fear of imminent harm, violation of protection orders and stalking. Domestic violence can be happening even if the abuser never directly hits you.
  • Remember, domestic violence is about power and control; it is about getting you to do what an abuser wants and for the abuser to maintain the control in the relationship.
  • You are not to blame for the behavior of an abuser but they might try to make you feel that way.
  • Children who grow up in this environment often carry this behavior into their own relationships. Nearly 1/3 of all children who witness abuse have significant behavior and emotional problems.

How is a domestic violence relationship defined?

In the Revised Code of Washington (RCW), titles RCW 10.99 and RCW 26.50, domestic violence relationship is defined as follows:

  • Spouses
  • Former spouses
  • Persons who have a child in common regardless of whether they have been married or have lived together at any time
  • Adult persons (18 years or older) related by blood or marriage, adult persons who are presently residing together or who have resided together in the past
  • Persons sixteen years of age or older who are presently residing together OR who have resided together in the past AND who have or have had a dating relationship
  • Persons sixteen years of age or older with whom a person sixteen years of age or older has or has had a dating relationship
  • Persons who have a biological or legal parent-child relationship to include stepparents and step children and grandparents and grandchildren

How are children affected by domestic violence?

Children from abusive households may find it difficult to develop trust, self-confidence or positive self-images. They may exhibit the behavior of the abuser and/or fault the victim for not protecting them or for not leaving the abuse as they get older. Children's responses differ with age and gender. Children from abusive homes are more likely to have problems with obtaining good grades/school issues, increase use of drugs/ alcohol, dating/relationship problems, issues with sexual boundaries, aggressive/assaultive behavior, get into trouble with the law, runaway, contemplate suicide and are at greater risk of being in an abusive relationship as an adult.

What is a personal safety plan?

A safety plan is something that you can have in place regardless of whether the abuser is still living in the home, if you have separated or if you have left the relationship. A personal safety plan is something that is created according to your specific situation usually with the help of a professional that is trained in the dynamics of domestic violence. Some things that you should consider in creating your own plan:

Step 1: Things to prepare in advance

Survivors of domestic violence cannot always avoid violent incidents and In order to increase your safety please consider the following:

  • Teach your children how to call 911.
  • Tell someone you know you can trust (a friend or relative) what is going on.
  • Arrange in advance for a safe place to go (this must be a location that your partner does not know about).
  • Have a bag of clothing, medications, and other necessary items prepared in advance for yourself and your children to use if you need to leave quickly (the bag should be hidden or kept by a trusted person that you can get to in a hurry).
  • Make copies of your important papers (keep one copy in the bag and give other copies to trusted friends and relatives).
  • Make an extra set of important keys (car, house, mailbox, etc.).

Step 2: Safety during a violent episode

  • If you can, during an episode of violence or abuse get yourself and your children out of the location
  • As soon as you can safely do so, consider calling 911. If injured, get medical assistance. Consider getting photographs of any injuries even if you do not call the police.
  • If an argument seems unavoidable, move to a room or area with easy access to an exit…not a bathroom, kitchen or anywhere near weapons or hard surfaces
  • Use your instincts and judgment…if the situation is serious, you may choose to give your partner what he/she wants to calm down. Decide what will keep you the safest…complying, screaming for help, pounding on walls, running away, calling a friend or family member.
  • Keep a journal in a safe location should you need to recall dates and incidents in the future.

Step 3: Safety at work, in public and at daycare

Please be careful in choosing who to confide in about your situation. You could inform your boss, supervisor or daycare provider employees. You can ask a co-employee to screen phone calls you receive at work. While walking to and from your car, you can ask someone to walk with you. If you are in a visible location, ask to see if you can be relocated to a less visible site. Provide copies of protection orders and also photos of the abuser to work, schools and daycare locations. Consider using the OPD Cell Phone Program (see below)

Step 4: Safety at home

You can do many things to increase your safety at home. It may not be possible to do every thing suggested here, but you might be able to add some of these ideas step by step over a period of time such as change the locks on your doors; replace wooden doors with metal doors; install a security system; add additional locks, window bars, and use dowels to wedge against doors and windows; purchase rope ladders to be used for escape from second floor windows or access points; install outdoor lighting and motion sensors. PLEASE tell your children that it is okay to call 911 and teach your children how make collect calls should they need to call you from a distant location (should the abuser take them).

The ideas listed above do not cover the in depth personal safety plan that can be created with a professional trained in the area of safety planning and domestic violence issues. Please consider calling Safeplace or another highly trained agency to review your plan to review your own individualized needs and to make it as effective as possible. If you feel you want or need to talk to someone about developing a personal safety plan there are many resources available for you.

Please remember to keep safety planning materials well hidden and secret from your abuser. If you are planning on leaving the relationship, you must carefully plan how and when you are going to leave. LEAVING IS THE MOST DANGEROUS TIME! Abusers often strike out in violence when they believe that they are losing control of the other person in the relationship.

Power Wheel of Domestic Abuse

The Power and Control Wheel was developed after interviewing survivors of domestic violence in support groups and abusers in treatment programs. Victims were asked to identify the ways in which they felt they were controlled and abusers were asked to identify what tactics they used to maintain an environment of fear and control (Pence, 1987).

At the center of the Wheel is the intention – the purpose – of all the abusive tactics . . . to establish power and control. Tactics of abuse involve a variety of behaviors to include: degrading remarks, cruel jokes, economic exploitation, punches, kicks, threats, false imprisonment, sexual abuse, suffocating actions, choking, maiming assaults and homicide. Each tactic (i.e. economic abuse, threats and intimidation) is represented by each Wheel spoke. The rim of the Wheel that holds it together is abuse and the threat of violence (Pence, 1987).

What are protection orders and their differences?

There are several different types of protection orders and restraining orders. The type of order that gets issued depends on how individuals may be related to each other and circumstances of the situation. An individual can also have more than one order placed against an abuser; orders can overlap and vary in their restraints.

No Contact Order:

A domestic violence crime has to have been reported to police and the incident charged in order to have a No Contact Order put in place. This order can be issued telephonically by a Judge at the time of an arrest, at arraignment and/or at sentencing. In fact, a Judge can put this type of order into effect even without the victim's consent. The No Contact Order can restrict the abuser from contacting the victim in many ways and can also exclude the abuser from the shared residence. There is no cost for this order but there has to be a criminal charge pending. You can reference the Revised Code of Washington 10.99, The Domestic Violence Act, for more detailed information.

Civil Protection Order:

This type of order is issued when a victim of domestic violence goes on their own to a court to ask for protection for her/him and/or for children from the abuser. If you are a resident of Thurston County, you can go to the Thurston County Family and Juvenile Court located at 2801 32nd Avenue SW in Tumwater. A victim can get this kind of order even if the police have never been called. There is no fee for this order and you do not need an attorney to get one. If granted, this order is valid for two weeks and you will be asked to go back to the same court to get a permanent protection order. The other party, abuser/respondent, must be served with the temporary order, your petition and notified of the two week hearing date in order to make the order valid as well as enforceable. The other party, abuser/respondent, may attend the two week hearing and contest the order. At the two week hearing the Judge can make the order valid for a year or more. You can also go to the Revised Code of Washington 26.50, Domestic Violence Prevention Act for more in depth information. You can also speak with the Thurston County Family and Juvenile Court staff for questions about the orders at 360.709.3275.

Restraining Order:

This order is VERY different from the other orders mentioned above and the term "restraining order" is incorrectly used on a frequent basis. A true restraining order happens when somebody files for a separation, divorce and/or can be incorporated into a parenting plan. This order can prohibit contact; clarify child custody, residency, etc. You usually need an attorney and there is a substantial filing fee that is involved. You can call The Thurston County Family and Juvenile Court at (360) 709-3275 as well as go to the Revised Code of Washington 26.09 for more information/details.

Civil Anti-Harassment Orders:

Individuals who seek this kind of order must be seriously alarmed, annoyed or harassed by the other party's conduct which served no lawful purpose. These orders are for individuals who are not in a domestic violence relationship. This order can be obtained even if the police are not involved or called. This order can be obtained at District or Family Court and there is a filing fee involved. The individual would ask for the order and if granted, would be good for two weeks. The other party would have to be served with the temporary Anti-harassment Order, the petition and the two week court date for it to be valid/enforceable.

Criminal Anti-Harassment Orders:

There must be a non-domestic violence charge involving charges of harassment or assault for a victim to obtain this type of order. This order can only be imposed by a Judge if criminal charges have been brought against the person in question and/or there is an open case. There is no fee for this type of order.

What rights do domestic violence victims have?

According to RCW 10.99, if you are the victim of domestic violence, you can ask the city or county prosecuting attorney to file a criminal complaint. You also have the right to file a petition for a protection order in the Thurston County Family and Juvenile Court for protection from domestic abuse which could include any of the following:
  • An order restraining our abuser from further acts of abuse
  • An order directing your abuser to leave your household
  • An order preventing your abuser from entering your residence, school, business or place of employment
  • An order awarding you or the other parent custody of or visitation with your minor child or children
  • An order restraining your abuser from molesting or interfering with minor children in your custody.

What about my rights and/or my child's rights as a victim of crime?

In addition to being a victim of domestic violence, you may also have rights if the domestic violence crime was reported to law enforcement. There is a specific statute that lists the general rights of crime victims titled Revised Code of Washington 7.29. This lists the rights of victims, survivors and witnesses of crimes in the legal system.

What is the "Cell Phone Program?"

Our Victim Assistance Office has implemented a Cell Telephone Program that is designed to enable victims of domestic violence to place a call for help when they most need it. Too often there are barriers that prevent someone from calling 911. It is our philosophy that in today's society not being able to afford or have access to a phone is not an acceptable situation. We have established this program to provide cellular phones to people who may be at risk of physical harm.

If you believe that a cellular phone would enhance your safety, or if you wish to donate a cell phone to the program, please call the Olympia Victim Assistance Office at 360.753.8408.

For other human services and justice system resources see our " Links ."

Adobe Acrobat Reader is required to view documents on OPD web pages. You can download it free by clicking on the link below.