Domestic Violence

If you are currently being assaulted or under threat of imminent assault or other emergency situation, call 9-1-1 immediately and an officer will respond. If you are the victim of a past incident of domestic violence with or without abuse, contact the Florence Police Department at 541-997-3515, and it will be investigated.

You are encouraged to visit the Oregon Department of Justice and Attorney General's website at www.doj.state.or.us/crimev/cvr/domestic_violence.shtml for additional information. That website states, "Domestic violence occurs when one family or household member harms or threatens to harm another family or household member." This discussion of domestic violence includes elder and disabled person abuse even though those types of abuse can take place outside of a family or household.

Many of the general crime victims' rights found on the web site apply to criminal cases involving domestic violence, elder or disabled person abuse. The following civil legal remedies for victims of family, elder, or disabled person abuse also may apply:
For the actual legal provisions go to Oregon Revised Statutes.

• Whenever any peace officer has reason to believe that a family or household member has been abused, or that an elderly person or person with disabilities has been abused, that officer shall use all reasonable means to prevent further abuse, including advising each person of the availability of a shelter or other services in the community and giving each person immediate notice of legal rights and remedies available. ORS 133.055(3)
• In Oregon, under the Family Abuse Prevention Act, a family abuse victim has the right to receive an instruction brochure, a petition, order and related forms from the clerk of the circuit court explaining the rights set forth in the Act. These rights include mandatory relief for up to one year and allowing a petitioner to provide a mailing or contact address instead of a residential address. ORS 107.718
• When any court enters a decree, order or modificiation of a decree or order under certain family and assistance payment law, the court shall allow any part to the decree or order to include in the decree or order a waiver of personal service in a subsequent contempt proceeding in order to maintain the confidentiality of a residential address. ORS 107.835
• A victim of domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking may not be disqualified from receiving unemployment benefits if the individual has no reasonably available alternatives to leaving work to protect the individual or minor child from further domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking at a workplace or elsewhere. ORS 657.176(12)
• A victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking, may terminate a rental agreement with a 14 day notice within 90 days of the crime, and has the right to have locks changed by the owner of the rental property. ORS 90.453 ORS 90.459
• The Violence Against Women Act and the Justice Department Reauthorization Act of 2005 protect qualified public housing and Section 8 tenants and family members of tenants who are victims of domestic violence, dating violence, or stalking from being evicted or terminated from housing assistance based on acts of such violence against them. 42 USC 143d(2005); 42 USC 1437f(2006)
• A victim of domestic violence may have a right, in some Oregon Housing Authorities, to a housing preference.
• A person at risk for family, elder or disabled people abuse, has the right to go on a payment plan rather than have basic phone service disconnected for unpaid bills. ORS 759.690 - Note Following; Chapter 204, Oregon Laws 2005
• Any protection order issued by the court of one state or Indian tribe, after reasonable notice was given to the person against whom the order was made sufficient to protect due process rights, shall be accorded full faith and credit by the court of another state or tribe and enforced as if it were the order of the enforcing state or tribe. 18 USC 2265
• The Department of Homeland Security may not release information about certain victims of domestic violence and their children without the victim's consent. VAWA, 18 USC 384
• Oregon residents who are victims of domestic violence or are at risk of becoming victims may be eligible for Temporary Assistance to Domestic Violence Survivors (TA/DVS) emergency monetary grants through the Oregon Department of Human Services. Applicants must have children or be pregnant to qualify. An emergency monetary relief order under the Family Abuse Prevention Act does not affect eligibility for TA/DVS grants. See OAR 461-135-1210 et seq.
• The Department of Homeland Security may not make unfavorable immigration decisions based solely upon information provided by a spouse, parent, or other family member who resided in the same household as the immigrant, who is abusive toward the immigrant or immigrant's child. 8 USCA Sec. 1367(a)(1)
• Victims of crime who are immigrants may access emergency medical care and police assistance, may have the perpetrators of the crimes against them prosecuted, and may obtain community based services necessary to protect life and safety. H.R. REP. NO 104-725(1996); 61 Fed. Reg. 45,985 (Aug 30, 1996); 63 Fed. Reg. 41,662 (Aug 4, 1998); 62 Fed. Ref. 61,344, 61,346 (Nov 17, 1997); 8 USC Sec. 1642(d)"

There is help available locally in the Florence area for people who are victims of domestic violence or just need advice or someone to talk to who can provide assistance. The Florence Police Department refers victims of Domestic Violence to the Siuslaw Outreach Services, formerly the Siuslaw Area Women's Center, as they have the resources, skill, training, ability, and the desire to help in any way they can.

Siuslaw Outreach Services
1576 W. 12th Street
Florence, OR 97439
541-997-2816 (office) 1-877-997-FOUR (toll free)
541-997-4444 (crisis)

In June 2003 Executive Director Ethel Bassett wrote, "Siuslaw Area Women's Center (SAWC) was founded in March 1986 by a group of women volunteers to meet the critical needs of rural, western Lane County residents. The agency's first project was an empowerment support group for women. It was created for domestic violence and sexual assault victims, and intended to be an instrument assisting women to regain self-confidence and self-sufficiency as they transitioned into safe homes.

The mission statement of the SAWC, now called Siuslaw Outreach Services (SOS), is to assist women and their families to lead safe, dignified and secure lives by offering a range of services from basic necessities to self-empowerment". The Center's Board of Directors and Staff are committed to observing cultural awareness; diversity training for staff, volunteers and Board members; outrach to underserved populations; and affirmative action guidelines for volunteers, Board and staff. The agency has a goal of ending oppressive behaviors through education, advocacy, legislative change and provision for the basic human needs of individuals and families while they work toward self-empowerment.

SOS is contacted directly by victims of domestic violence who are in crisis and who need to leave an abusive home immediately; by victims who are not ready to leave abusive homes but who do have a goal of exiting and need safety planning; by family and friends of victims who want to learn about available resources, what they can do for victims needing additional services and advocacy; and by law enforcement responding to calls for assistance who refer victims to an advocate for emergency needs, legal and medical advocacy and follow up services.

SOS assists male and female domestic and sexual abuse victims and their children, and has special programs to provide services to seniors and disabled persons, bilingual or monolingual persons, and for same-gender victims. Resources include a 24/7 crisis line, 24/7 in-person advocate response, on-scene response by Community police liaison, emergency shelter, free clothing, food, transportation assistance, medical and legal advocacy, medical prescription assistance, an on-site attorney one day/week, telephonic Orders of Protection, DV education groups, support groups, transitional housing programs, a drop in advocacy center, and outreach office in Mapleton, and a Hispanic Advisory Committee. SOS offers free DV presentations for groups and organizations, and educational presentations in schools for youths. SOS facilitates a weekly batterer's re-education groups for offenders, coordinating with the Courts, Parole and Probation, and other batterer's intervention group facilitators.

Staff all live in this community, and have seen the effects of the work they do in the reduction in the incidences and lethality of abuse victims. They have contributed to the coordination of a community response, and have the support of the community in efforts to eradicate DV. Staff also receives the active support of the City, the hospital, the Court and the local Police and this helps to maintain morale.

One advocate says, "It is never dull around here. Every day there are new people to meet, stories to hear and each case demands a seperate course of action. We're not a governmental agency, bound by their rules and regulations, so we can tailor solutions to individual needs: helpin ga survivor return to college by paying a school debt; helping a survivor with transportation by helping with vehicle registration fees; or navigating the paperwork with a survivor as she finds housing, work and other resources.""

The most common question received at the Florence Police Department in the area of Domestic Violence is "how do I obtain a restraining order or stalking order?" To be eligible for a restraining order, the victim and suspect must be or have been in a sexual relationship, or be related by blood or marriage. Restraining orders can only be filed in a County Circuit Court or at a local Women's Center, such as Siuslaw Outrach Services. Restraining orders may be served by anyone who is not a party to the action. Any violations of restraining orders must be investigated and handled by a peace officer, such as a Florence Police Officer and the citations must be served by a peace officer. The critical element that must be met is that there must be two unwanted contacts that put the victim in fear of danger.

Should you have any questions you are encouraged to contact the Siuslaw Outreach Services at 541-997-2816 and/or the Florence Police Department at 541-997-3515.