It is your right to protect yourself from future violent incidents. There are no simple solutions for stopping family violence. Without some type of intervention, violent behavior usually does not stop. It tends to get more frequent and severe. Legal action is one way of intervening to stop the violence.
Counseling is another choice.
Often, a combination of the two is the most effective. In emergency situations, victims of domestic violence should immediately call their local law enforcement agency for assistance. The officer will decide if there is enough reason, probable cause, to make an arrest. If the officer decides there is enough probable cause to arrest and the person who hurt you is still present, the officer will make a physical arrest at the scene. If your abuser left the scene before officers arrive, a copy of the officer's report will be sent to the detective division for follow up.