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
- Create a safety plan with the victim