State Court Solicitor - Domestic Violence

Solicotor Court Augusta
State Court Solicitor

Domestic Violence

Domestic Violence Is A Crime.

As your Solicitor General, I am responsible for the prosecution of all misdemeanor cases in the State Court of Richmond County. Protecting you and your family from acts of violence is one of my primary responsibilities and greatest concerns.

My goal is to stop the violence, not break up families. Therefore, my office works with families to determine specific needs in individual cases and how these family issues can be addressed within the prosecutorial process. Additionally, this office has a Victim Witness Program to assist the victims of crime. An Assistant Solicitor General and a Victim Advocate are assigned to every case of domestic violence. The advocate assigned to your case will inform you of your rights, the stages in the judicial process, avenues of compensation and any additional assistance you may need.

Please don't hesitate to call on us to assist you. E-mail contact information for domestic violence cases is found at the bottom of this page.

Sincerely,

Harold V. Jones II, Solicitor General

Table of Contents

Facts about Domestic Violence.
What is Domestic Violence ?
Types of Abuse.
What can you do ?
How will we help you ?
What is a Protective Order ?
How do I obtain a TPO ?
What is the Victim's Bill of Rights ?

Facts about domestic violence:

A woman is abused every 9-15 seconds.
In the United States, Six million women are beaten each year by their husbands and boyfriends - 4,000 are murdered.
30% of all murders in this country are committed within the family and 13% are committed by spouses.
Children are present during 80% of the assaults against their mothers and 3 million children witness domestic violence each year.
Many cases of domestic violence are not reported because of feelings of helplessness, fear and shame.
Domestic Violence transcends racial, age and socioeconomic boundaries. Its victims are educated, uneducated, poor, middle class, and wealthy. They are Caucasian, Hispanic, African-American and are of every ethnic origin.
Children who witness violence in the home learn that violence is the answer and these children are 1000 times more likely to abuse as adults.
In Richmond County, Georgia, more than 2500 cases are prosecuted annually by my office involving domestic violence.

What is Domestic Violence ?

Georgia law defines domestic violence as any felony, battery, simple battery, simple assault, assault, stalking, criminal damage to property, unlawful restraint and criminal trespass between past or present spouses, persons who are parents of the same child, parents and children, stepparents and stepchildren, foster parents and foster children and persons living or formerly living in the same household. You do not have to be married to someone to be a victim of domestic violence in Georgia.

Types of Abuse

Physical Abuse can include slapping, pushing, punching, hitting, kicking, grabbing, choking, biting, hair pulling, or the use or threat to use weapons to hurt you. Physical abuse can occur and leave no visible injuries.

Psychological Abuse can include threatening you, controlling the money, controlling how you spend your time with your friends, attempts to make you feel inferior and threats to harm or take away your children.

Sexual Abuse is any forced sexual contact, whether by physical force or threats or coercion.

What can you do ?

Call the police. Just because you were or are married or living with someone does not give them the right to threaten or abuse you.

Seek medical attention. Go to the emergency room, your doctor or the hospital for treatment, particularly if you have been choked. You could have injuries that you are not aware of.

Leave, if you can. There are Battered Women's shelters available. Our office can put you in touch with the shelters in the area.

Have a safety plan. Have a bag packed for you and your children with important documents, a set of keys, money, your checkbook and a change of clothes.

How will we help you ?

We can provide to you information regarding the following:

Arrest and prosecution procedures
Counseling options
Temporary Protection Orders (TPO)
Battered Women's Shelters
Provide cell phones for 911 calls free of charge to any victim of domestic violence.

What is a Protective Order ?

A Protective Order is an order issued by a Judge to help protect you from the person who is abusing or harassing you. Generally, the order states that the person is prohibited from having contact with you. Such an order is commonly referred to as a Temporary Protection Order, or TPO.

How do I obtain a TPO ?

It must be filed in the county where the abuser lives. In Richmond County, go to the Superior Court to obtain a TPO.
There must have been a recent act of physical abuse.
You, as the victim, must complete the application for the TPO.
If the court grants the TPO, the batterer will be served with the order. Within 10 days, both of you will be required to return to court to determine if the order should be extended.
If the batterer violates the provisions of the order, he can be held in contempt of court and may be arrested. The TPO may become invalid if you make contact with the batterer.

If you would like more information about TPOs in Richmond County, please call the Superior Court Clerk's Office at (706) 821-2465.

What is the Victim's Bill of Rights ?

As the victim of a crime, the law grants you certain rights and responsibilities.

Contact Information

Nancy Johnson - Senior Assistant Solicitor General, Domestic Violence
Carl Schluter - Assistant Solicitor General, Domestic Violence
Whenda James - Assistant Solicitor General, Domestic Violence
Vivian Alexander - Family Violence Victim's Advocate
Vanessa Hewitt-Quinland - Assistant Solicitor General, Domestic Violence
Andrew Bolton - Investigator