What We Do

Preventing Domestic Violence and Assisting Survivors of Abuse

The communities served by Brooklyn A have an extremely high incidence of domestic violence. In 2005, North and East Brooklyn police precincts reported over 40,000 domestic violence incidents—nearly half of all cases reported in Brooklyn, although this area comprises just a third of the borough's population. And these figures understate the problem, since many cases of abuse are not reported to the police.

Brooklyn A's Victims Support Program provides legal assistance to survivors of domestic violence in ways that promote empowerment, self-sufficiency, and economic independence. We take formal measures to alleviate domestic violence, and improved the victims' access to resources such as shelter, housing and public assistance. Our assistance to abused mothers also addresses the needs of their children, including conveying the understanding that abuse is not acceptable and preventing this exposure from affecting their future intimate relationships.

We provide an array of civil legal services to survivors of domestic violence, including:

• Orders of protection - "stay away" orders to ensure the victim's safety;
• Spousal and/or child support;
• Child custody - helping victims advocate for full custody in order to ensure the safety of children's and end their exposure to violence;
• Avoiding foster care - to prevent the separation of a child from an abused parent, we assist in placing clients in domestic violence shelters that ensure the safety of mother and child;
• Housing - many victims are financially dependent on an abusing partner; after we have evicted an abuser from the household, victims are often unable to pay for basic living expenses. We advocate for public assistance grants and funds from community groups to help pay rent, and help negotiate payment plans with the landlord;
• Benefits Advocacy - we work with local welfare offices to ensure that clients obtain financial assistance, housing, and money for food and rent on an emergency basis.

Brooklyn A collaborates with our longstanding local partner organizations to assure that survivors of domestic violence are referred to our Victims Support Program and receive culturally appropriate, client-centered legal assistance. We have a particularly strong working relationship with the North Brooklyn Coalition Against Domestic Violence, providing on-site trainings to the Coalition staff on relevant legal and policy developments. The Coalition staff, in turn trains Brooklyn A attorneys on battering, sexual assault, and stalking issues; safety planning; and culturally appropriate communications and interventions.

We also refer clients to social service agencies that can address their non-legal needs, including psychological support, empowerment training, shelter placement, and health care.