DOMESTIC VIOLENCE 

Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office

Sheriff John Lovick

INFORMATION FOR VICTIMS

Dear Citizen; This document has been provided as a reference for victims of domestic violence.  The Snohomish County Sheriff's Office is very concerned about the crime of domestic violence.  The Sheriff’s Office thoroughly investigates and aggressively seeks prosecution of domestic violence cases.  The safety of the public is our primary mission.  If at any time you feel that your safety is jeopardized, please call 911.  This document will attempt to answer some commonly asked questions about the crime of domestic violence.

What is Domestic Violence?

Washington State Law defines domestic violence as “physical harm, bodily injury, sexual assault, or the infliction of the fear of imminent physical harm between family members or household members.”

·         Spouses or former spouses

·         Persons with a child in common, regardless of marriage.

·         Adult person(s) related by blood or marriage

·         Adult person(s) that reside together or who have ever resided together.

·         Person(s) of at least 16 years of age who have or have ever had a romantic or dating relationship

·         Person(s) that have a biological or legal parent child relationship.  This includes parents, stepparents, foster parents, stepchildren, foster children, grandparents or grandchildren.

How do I obtain a Protection Order?

As a victim of domestic violence you may ask a Superior Court, District or Municipal Court for a court order of protection from domestic violence.  This order may have the following stipulations:

·         It can restrain your abuser from further acts of abuse.

·         It can direct your abuser to leave home immediately.

·         It can prohibit your abuser from entering your school, residence, or place of employment.

·         It can grant you temporary custody of your minor children.

·         It can prohibit your abuser from contacting you in person, by phone, by mail, or through a third party

·         .It can restrain your abuser from molesting or interfering with minor children in your custody.

You can obtain the paperwork to petition the court for an order o protection at any Superior, District or Municipal Court in the state.  You must be able to provide the court with a location or address where the abuser can be served with this order.  Please not, this order is not valid without being served, or without proof that the abuser had knowledge of the order and its conditions.

Am I a Domestic Violence Victim?

·         Are you frightened of your partner’s behavior?

·         Are you afraid to disagree with him or her?

·         Do you find yourself apologizing to yourself or others for your partner’s behavior when you are treated badly?

·         Have you been hit, kicked, shoved or had things thrown at you?

·         Do you not see your friends or family because of his/her jealousy?

·         Are you afraid to have sex?

·         Are you forced to justify everything you do, every place you go and every person you see to avoid his or her temper?

·         Have you been wrongly and repeatedly accused of flirting or having sex with others?

·         Are you unable to go out, get a job, or go to school without his/her permission?

·         Has your partner threatened suicide when you tried to leave?

·         Does your partner blame you when they mistreat you?

·         Say you provoked them, pressed their buttons, made them do it, and led them on?

·         If you answered yes to any of these questions you may be a victim of domestic violence.  Call the Center for Battered Women to speak with an advocate and get support

Why does my Abuser Need to be Arrested?

Washington State law requires arrest when a law enforcement officer has cause to believe that an assault has occurred between persons listed in the domestic violence law.  This arrest is mandated by this law as a means of protecting the partied involved

I don’t want my abuser arrested, I only want the abuse to stop.

This is a common feeling for people in domestic violence relationships.  The abuser will often apologize for their behavior and promise to attend treatment or never abuse you again.  This will then lead to a “honeymoon” period when the abuser will seem to return to being the person you knew before the abuse.  This may continue for several weeks or months, but the abuse will almost always occur again and be worse than the time before.  Please remember that your abuser cannot change their behavior without intensive therapy and treatment.  This is not something that can be fixed with a few visits to a family counselor.  Holding the abuser accountable for their actions is the only known successful way to deal with this problem.

I need medical care and don’t have the money to afford it.

As a victim of a crime you can apply for benefits from the crime victims compensation program.  The program is normally administered by your local prosecuting attorney’s office and can pay for your treatment costs.

I need to talk with someone about what has happened to me.

Snohomish County has several agencies that provide assistance for victims of domestic violence.  The following is a partial list of those agencies and the services they provide.

Children and Domestic Violence

If a child lives in a home where violence takes place, they too will be affected emotionally by what they see and hear.  Children deserve the right to live in a safe and nurturing environment.  A third of all children who witness their mother being beaten develop emotional problems.  Boys who see their father abuse their mothers are ten times more likely to be abusive in their adult relationships.  Girls who see their mothers taking a stand against abuse will more likely grow up with the skills needed to protect themselves later in life.  Domestic Violence affects your children and they rely on you as a parent to protect them.

 Snohomish County has many agencies that provide assistance for victims of domestic violence.  The following is a partial list of those agencies and the services they provide:

 Domestic Violence Services of Snohomish County (425) 252-2873

The Domestic Violence Services of Snohomish County provides a 24 hour hotline with advocates to safely plan and support your decisions, has a confidential shelter where you and your children can go to be safe, has legal advocates to help you through the different court processes, and provides community support groups.

Providence Sexual Assault Center 

(425) 252-4800

Prosecutor’s Office Victim/Witness Assistance   

(425) 388-3333

SNOHOMISH COUNTY COURTS

Superior Court

Superior Court Clerk

(Protection Order Assistance)

Snohomish County Courthouse Room C-125

Everett, WA  (425) 388-3638

Everett District Court

Snohomish County Courthouse, 3rd Floor

Everett, WA  98201

(425) 388-3331

Evergreen District Court

14414 179th Ave SE

Monroe, WA  98272

(360) 805-6776

South District Court

20520 68 Ave W

Lynnwood, WA  98036

(425) 774-8803

Cascade District Court

415 E. Burke Ave

Arlington, WA  98223

(360) 435-7700

MUNICIPAL COURTS

Everett Municipal Court

3028 Wetmore Ave

Everett, WA  98201

(425) 257-8778

Marysville Municipal Court

1635 Grove Street

Marysville, WA  98270

(360) 651-5035

SNOHOMISH COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE

Sheriff’s Office Hours M-F  9-5

Headquarters

Snohomish County Courthouse

Fourth Floor

M-S 606 3000 Rockefeller

Everett, WA  98201

(425) 388-3393

North Precinct

15100 40th Ave NE

Marysville, WA  98271

(425) 388-5200

South Precinct

15928 Mill Creek Blvd

Mill Creek, WA  98012   

(425) 388-5250

East Precinct/Sultan PD

515 Main Street

POB 1650

Sultan, WA  98294

(425) 388-6260

CONTRACT CITIES

Darrington Police Department (360) 436-1186

Gold Bar Police Department (360) 793-8986

Stanwood Police Department (360) 425-7733

Sultan Police Department (360) 793-1051

Additional Websites 

http://www.dvs-snoco.org/index

http://www.stalkingawarenessmonth.org/about

http://www.uncfsp.org/projects/userfiles/File/DCE-STOP_NOW/Teen_PC_wheel_NCDSV.pdf