Know the telephone number of the domestic violence hotline. Contact it for information on resources and legal rights. Call the police. Police officers should take any reports of domestic violence seriously and investigate immediately. If the police find evidence of abuse, they can arrest the abuser, and a prosecutor can put him or her on trial.
Some states provide for the mandatory arrest of an abuser.
There are a number of organizations that offer support to victims of domestic violence. One of the following organizations may be able to help you find the help you need. This hotline, staffed 24 hours a day, will put you in touch with the shelters and battered-women organizations operating in your area. It also mounts domestic-violence awareness campaigns, holds conferences and otherwise serves as an advocacy group for battered woman. Restraining orders can help.