Seeking Support? - Family Justice Center

What is the Family Justice Center?

The Family Justice Center (the “Center”) is a warm and welcoming one-stop center for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse, elder abuse and human trafficking. The Center is where families come first. We bring resources to meet the needs of children, youth and families impacted by interpersonal violence, recognizing that family violence greatly impacts children’s healthy development including their emotional, mental and physical health.

Resources

24-Hour Crisis Hotlines

Community Violence Solutions (1-800-670-7273) – Sexual Assault / Human Trafficking
STAND! For Families Against Violence (1-888-215-5555) – Domestic Violence
Updated Local Resources (211)

Legal Assistance

Bay Area legal Aid (1-800-551-5554)
Contra Costa Bar Association (925-825-5700)
Contra Costa County Family Law Facilitator (925-608-1000)
Contra Costa Senior Legal Services (925-609-7900)
Lawyers for Family Justice (Antioch 925-281-0970 | Concord 925-521-6366 | Richmond 510-974-7200)

Emergency Shelter

STAND! For Families Against Violence (1-888-215-5555) – Domestic Violence
WOMAN Inc. (877-834-3578) – Bay Area domestic violence shelter openings
Updated Local Resources (211)

Culturally Specific

DeafHope (510-735-8553 or deafhope@deafhope.org)
Families Unidas (510-412-5930)
Korean Community Center Of the East Bay (510-547-2662)
Lao Family Community Development (510-215-1220)
The Latina Center (510-233-8595)
Narika (800-215-7308) – South Asian Communities
Rainbow Community Center (925-692-0090) – LGBTQI+

What is Domestic Violence?

Domestic violence is abuse in intimate relationships that have a pattern of coercive behavior designed to exert power and control.

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What is Sexual Assault?

Sexual Assault is sodomy, oral copulation, sexual penetration and sexual touching against a person’s will by means of force, violence, duress, menace and fear of immediate and unlawful bodily injury on the victim or another person.

Frequently Asked Questions

Restraining Orders

What is the process to get a Domestic Violence Restraining Order?

You can get a Domestic Violence Restraining Order (DVRO) against a spouse/former spouse, cohabitant/former cohabitant (in an intimate relationship and not just a roommate), current or former dating/engagement relationship, co-parent, child of either person or another relative within the first or second degree (grandparent, cousin, aunt, etc.).

You can get help filling out a domestic violence restraining order from our Lawyers for Family Justice or by calling 1-888-215-5555 to set up an appointment for the Restraining Order Clinic with Stand!

All applicants fill out Packet A. http://www.cc-courts.org/forms/packets/FamLaw19-DomesticViolencePacket-A.pdf

Applicants with children in common with the other party, fill out Packets A and B. https://www.cc-courts.org/forms/packets/FamLaw22-
DomesticViolencePacket-B.pdf

You can submit your completed DVRO application to the Contra Costa Family Court at dv@contracosta.courts.ca.gov.

Your DVRO application will then be looked at by a Judge within 24-48 hours. You can then pick up your reviewed application from the Spinetta Family Law Center at 751 Pine St, Martinez, CA 94553 8am-2pm.

Your reviewed application will have a hearing date on the top page. The top page will also tell you if your application was granted or denied on a temporary basis. If your application was granted, a Temporary Restraining Order will be in effect until your hearing date.

A copy of the reviewed application will need to be served on the person you are getting the restraining order against. The Sheriff’s Office will serve the reviewed application free of charge, but you must have an address for the other party. You can also have an adult over the age of 18 serve the other party.

You then must show up to your hearing date, where the other party will be present. At your hearing, you will explain to a Judge why you need a DVRO. The other party will explain to the Judge why a DVRO is not necessary and the Judge will decide if a Restraining Order After Hearing will be put in place (usually for 1,3, or 5 years).

I have a Temporary Restraining Order or Restraining Order After Hearing, but my abuser and/or their family keeps harassing me, what can I do?

Each time the other party in your restraining order contacts you, that is a violation of the restraining order and should be reported to the police. When you call the police, tell them you have an active restraining order in place and need to make a report of a violation. Then ask for the police report number so you can keep a record.

I haven’t gotten a restraining order against my abuser because we must see each other when we alternate time with our children. What can I do to ensure my safety?

Even if you share children with your abuser, you can still apply for a Domestic Violence Restraining Order. The order will address the custody exchanges.

My neighbor or roommate is harassing me, what can I do?

Although our Center is only able to assist if you are a survivor of interpersonal violence, you might be able to file for a Civil Harassment Order against the person harming you. Visit the Contra Costa Court for more information.

Family Law

Will I lose custody of my children if I don’t have a job?

This is a complex legal question. If you are a survivor of interpersonal violence, you should reach out to the Family Justice Center to set up a legal appointment. You can also contact the Contra Costa County Bar Association for a referral to an attorney. The Bar Association does charge a fee of $35.00 for the referral.

Housing

I have a tenant who is harassing me. What can I do?

Although we do not have a housing attorney you can speak with, you can reach out to Echo Housing for housing law questions. If you live in Richmond or Antioch, you can also reach out to Bay Area Legal Aid for housing law questions.

How and where can I get safe and affordable housing for my children and me?

Housing in the Bay Area is difficult to find. 211 is a good resource to start with for housing assistance in Contra Costa County.

The Seasons of Sharing program may be able to assist with a rental or deposit payment.

If I go to a domestic violence shelter, will I be able to leave to go to work? Will I be able to take my children with me? Will I be living with other families with children? How long will I be able to stay there?

There is one domestic violence shelter within Contra Costa County, which is run by Stand! For Families Free of Violence. If you need shelter due to a domestic violence situation, call 1-888-215-5555 and you will do a shelter screening with an advocate over the phone.

Children under the age of 18 years old are able to go with you to the shelter. Pets are not able to go to the shelter.

The shelter is in a confidential location. You are able to come and go from the shelter, but there are ground rules that shelter staff will go over with you before you enter the shelter program.

Criminal Justice System

I don’t have immigration papers. Will I get deported if I report a violent incident to the police?

This is a complex immigration legal question. If you are a survivor of interpersonal violence, you should reach out to the Family Justice Center to set up a legal appointment. You can also contact the Contra Costa County Bar Association for a referral to an attorney. The Bar Association does charge a fee of $35.00 for the referral.

Will my partner who has abused me be deported if I report?

This is also a complex immigration legal question. If you are a survivor of interpersonal violence, you should reach out to the Family Justice Center to set up a legal appointment. You can also contact the Contra Costa County Bar Association for a referral to an attorney. The Bar Association does charge a fee of $35.00 for the referral.

I got a restraining order from the police. Now what?

You can choose to file for a temporary restraining order. Please refer to the above ‘restraining order’ section for more information.

If you would like more information on if there is a criminal case, you can contact the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office.

I don’t want to call the police. Will you talk to my partner/kid and help them stop being violent?

No, this is not a service we offer at our center.

Financial

My abuser used my name and applied for many credit cards. I have bad credit, how can I fix it?

We work with SparkPoint to help families with: managing credit, increasing income and building assets.

Questions About What We Can Do

Restraining Order

Can I get help with an Elder Abuse Restraining Order from your Center?

If you are 65 years or older, you can get assistance in filling out an Elder Abuse Restraining Order from our Center or by reaching out to Contra Costa Senior Legal Services for assistance.

Family Law

Can your Center help me file for a divorce?

Although we cannot fill out the paperwork for you, we have attorneys that can explain the process of filing for divorce. If you are a survivor of interpersonal violence, you should reach out to the Family Justice Center to set up a legal appointment. You can also contact the Contra Costa County Bar Association for a referral to an attorney. The Bar Association does charge a fee of $35.00 for the referral.

The Contra Costa Court also has a comprehensive free online workshop we recommend you watch prior to filing for your divorce.

Can I get a free attorney from your center?

In Contra Costa County, free legal representation for family law and immigration cases is limited to Bay Area Legal Aid. We do have attorneys at our Centers who are able to assist survivors of interpersonal violence with a 1 hour free legal consultation. You then have the option of hiring the attorney at a reduced rate. Please note that we cannot guarantee an attorney will be able to represent you in your case.

Criminal Justice System

Will I have to report the abuse if I go to your Center for services?

No, you do not need to report the incident if you come to the Family Justice Center for services.

I have a history of domestic violence, but I have never reported it. Can I still receive services from your Center?

Yes, you can still receive services from the Family Justice Center regardless of if you have reported any incidents. Contact one of our three centers to connect with a Navigator.

I don’t want to call the police. Will you talk to my partner/kid and help them stop being violent?

Unfortunately, this is a service we do not offer at our center at this time. If would like to explore more open-ended options of support, asks us about our Restorative Justice project.

Center Programs

Does your Center offer court mandated domestic violence classes?

Our center does not, but there are several court approved mandated domestic violence programs (called Batterers Intervention Programs) in Contra Costa county. You can ask the Contra Costa Court for a list of approved providers.

I am interested in volunteering at the Family Justice Center, what are the requirements?

Please click here for more information on volunteering with the Family Justice Center. To become a volunteer, please fill out the application and email it to andrea@cocofamilyjustice.org.

Do you offer parenting classes?

We offer parenting classes through our partners, C.O.P.E. Family Support Center. Please call one of our centers for a schedule of parenting classes offered through the Family Justice schedule.