A Bandage Can't Fix The Abuse of Domestic Violence
I Don't Like to be Hit
Pinched
Shoved
Into Walls Punched
Choked
Suffocated Slapped
Don't Hold Me Down
Don't Break My Things
Don't Punch Holes in the
Walls Don't Call Me Names
It Hurts
It's Sad
It's Mean
It's Wrong
It's a Crime
There are Many Types of Abuse
Physical (hands on)
Verbal/Emotional/Psychological (hands off)
Sexual
Criminal Mischief (damaging your property)
Domestic Violence is Cyclical:
Tension Building
Everything you say or do makes them mad
You may be compliant, loving or compromising to keep your partner from
escalating
Violent Episode
Your partner rages out of control
Battering occurs
You may disassociate to get through the violence
Hearts and Flowers
Your partner…
Is sorry, loving, or kind
Begs for forgiveness
Promises to get help
Buys gifts
Promises it will never happen again
Over time, the "hearts and flowers" portion of the
cycle disappears.
You are told that your BAD behavior is what causes your partner to "lose
control".
If you are in a violent
relationship, you can get out. You can get help.
Did you know that Domestic Violence is a crime?
The Colorado State Law says that Domestic Violence is:
An act or threatened act of violence upon a person with whom the actor is
or has been involved with in an intimate relationship. Domestic Violence
includes any other crime against a person or property, when it is used as a
method of coercion, control, punishment, intimidation, or revenge directed
against a person with whom the actor is or has been involved in an intimate
relationship.
C.R.S. 18-6-800.3 (1)
Safety During an Explosive Incident
Avoid rooms that don't have an outside exit, or any room with a weapon
Devise a code word to use with family, friends, or neighbors for when to
call police
Ask neighbors to call police if they hear a disturbance
Teach your children to go to a safe place to wait for the police, such as
their bedroom, a neighbor's or friend's house
Safety - When it is Time to Leave
Hide money; an extra set of car keys; clothing for you and your children
(appropriate for the season); important documents such as birth certificates,
social security numbers (yours, your partner's, and children's); driver's
license; copies of bills, ownership papers, insurance policies, health
insurance information, marriage license, and bank account information;
valuable jewelry; and a special toy for each of your children
Decide whom you can stay with, or if you go to a shelter, keep the shelter
number and/or Victim Services number with you
You may contact Broomfield City and County Central Records at 1 DesCombes
Drive or the voter registration office in the county where you vote to ask for
a confidentiality form to block personal information on your voter
registration to be safe from your abuser
Obtain a restraining order or contact Victim Services at 303-438-6429 for
restraining order assistance
Inform your family, friends, and children's school about the restraining
order
Call 9-1-1 if the batterer breaks the restraining order
Call 9-1-1 to report an Act of Violence
24-34-402.7 Unlawful Action Against Employees Seeking Protection
Regarding leave for employees who seek protection as a victim of Domestic
Violence, Stalking, or Sexual Assault:
Employers shall permit an employee to take up to three (3) working days of
leave from work, with or without pay, in any 12-month period if the employee is
the victim of:
Or any other crime in which the underlying factual basis has been found by
a court on the record to include an act of Domestic Violence, C.R.S.
18-6-800.3
This leave must be for seeking a civil restraining order, obtaining medical
care or mental health counseling, making their home secure from the perpetrator
of the above acts, to seek new housing, or to seek legal assistance to address
issues arising from these acts of violence.
This provision applies to employers who employ fifty (50) or more employees
and to employees who have been employed with the employer for twelve (12) months
or more.
An employee seeking this leave prior to receiving such leave shall exhaust
any and all annual or vacation leave, personal leave, and sick leave (if
applicable) that may be available to the employee, unless the employer waives
the requirement.
All information related to the employee's leave pursuant to this section
shall be kept confidential by the employer. It is unlawful for any employer to
interfere with, restrain, discharge, discriminate, or deny the exercise of any
attempt to exercise any rights provided under this section.
A person claiming to be aggrieved by a violation of this section may sue
civilly for damages, including all wages or benefits that would have been due
the person, or equitable relief, or both, in any district court of competent
jurisdiction.
13-14-102 Civil Restraining Orders
Employers May Get Restraining Orders
A temporary restraining order may be issued if the issuing judge or
magistrate finds that an imminent danger exists to the person or persons seeking
protection under the civil restraining order.
"Imminent danger" is the health or life of one or more persons,
considering the circumstances surrounding the most recent incident of abuse or
threat of harm and any other relevant evidence regarding the safety of the
person(s) seeking this order.
If the judge or magistrate finds that an imminent danger exists to the
employees of a business entity, he or she may issue a civil restraining order in
the name of that business for the protection of the employees.
An employer shall not be liable for failing to obtain a restraining order in
the name of the business for the protection of the employees and patrons.
To obtain a copy of these amended laws in their entirety, see House Bill
02-1051 on the Colorado General Assembly's website at