These principles guide our coordinated community response. They are based on the principles originally created by the Battered Women's Justice Project, with input from Through These Doors (formerly Family Crisis Services) Outreach staff.
Violence is a criminal act; the abuser is always responsible
Support the victim without blaming
Focus on the abuser’s behavior
Work with the victim and respect her decisions
Recognize the abuser’s power over the victim
Recognize that trying to fix the relationship can be dangerous; the goal is to stop the violence
Identify and use community support systems and resources
Refer victims to specialized community services for help