Domestic Violence Information

The Colorado State Law says that Domestic Violence is: An act or threatened act of violence upon a person with whom the actor is or has been involved with in an intimate relationship. Domestic Violence includes any other crime against a person or property, including an animal when it is used as a method of coercion, control, punishment, intimidation, or revenge directed against a person with whom the actor is or has been involved in an intimate relationship. C.R.S. 18-6-800.3 (1)

Types of Abuse:

• Physical (hands on)
• Verbal/Emotional/Psychological (hands off)
• Sexual
• Criminal Mischief (damaging your property)

Domestic Violence is Cyclical

• Tension Building
  • Everything you say or do makes them mad.
  • You may be compliant, loving or compromising to keep your partner from escalating.
• Violent Episode
  • Your partner rages out of control.
  • Battering occurs.
  • You may disassociate to get through the violence.
• Hearts and Flowers is when your partner is:
  • Is sorry, loving, or kind.
  • Begs for forgiveness.
  • Promises to get help.
  • Buys gifts.
  • Promises it will never happen again.

Over time, the “hearts and flowers” portion of the cycle disappears. You are told that your BAD behavior is what causes your partner to “lose control."

Safety During an Explosive Incident

• Avoid rooms that don’t have an outside exit, or any room with a weapon.
• Devise a code word to use with family, friends, or neighbors for when to call police.
• Ask neighbors to call police if they hear a disturbance.
• Teach your children to go to a safe place to wait for the police, such as their bedroom, a neighbor’s or friend’s house.

Safety When it is Time to Leave

• Hide money and gather the following:
  • An extra set of car keys.
  • Clothing for you and your children (appropriate for the season).
  • Important documents such as birth certificates, social security numbers (yours, your partner’s, and children’s).
  • Driver’s license.
  • Copies of bills, ownership papers, insurance policies, health insurance information, marriage license, and bank account information.
  • Valuable jewelry
  • A special toy for each of your children
• Decide whom you can stay with, or if you go to a shelter, keep the shelter number and/or victim services number with you.
• You can contact Broomfield City and County Central Records at 1 DesCombes Drive or the voter registration office in the county where you vote to ask for a confidentiality form to block personal information on your voter registration to be safe from your abuser.
• Obtain a protection order or contact victim services for information on protection order assistance clinic times.
• Inform your family, friends, and children’s school about the protection order
• Call 9-1-1 if the batterer breaks the protection order.
• Call 9-1-1 to report an act of violence.