In an emergency, call 911
National Domestic Violence Hotline (800) 799-SAFE

The Costa Mesa Police Department enforces laws designed to protect the victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and other types of abuse.

In California, it is a crime to assault, sexually violate, or otherwise harm another person, including a spouse, ex-spouse, parents, lover, or dating partner.

What is Domestic Violence?

• Has your partner ever threatened or intimidated you?
• Has your partner ever physically hurt you?
• Does your partner constantly insult, humiliate or manipulate you?
• Is your partner violent?
• Is your partner controlling or obsessive?
• Does your partner isolate you by limiting or monitoring your interactions with family and friends?
• Are you in an abusive relationship?
• Is someone you know in an abusive relationship?

Domestic violence is "abuse committed against an adult or minor who is a spouse, former spouse, cohabitant, or person with whom the suspect has had a child or is having or has had a dating or engagement relationship." (California Penal Code, Section 13700)

Domestic violence may include the following acts in an attempt to exercise power and authority over another person. The abuse may occur during or after a marital or dating relationship.

• Physical Abuse
• Verbal Abuse
• Sexual Abuse
• Emotional Abuse
• Psychological Abuse
• Coercion
• Harassment
• Economic Control
• Threats and Intimidation
• Destruction of Property
• Isolation

Signs That a Person May be a Victim of Domestic Violence

• Uncharacteristic changes in mood or behavior
• Decline in job performance
• Preoccupation/lack of concentration
• Increased tardiness and/or absenteeism
• Bruises or other injuries that are unexplained
• Receives harassing phone calls in the workplace
• Appears anxious, frightened, or very cautious
• Makes excuses for the above signs and symptoms that do not make sense

Domestic Violence Facts

Domestic violence crosses cultural, racial, ethnic, economic, gender, and political boundaries. Most victims are women. However, children, teenagers, and the elderly are also at risk. Domestic violence can occur anytime and anywhere, and can affect the workplace.

Victims of domestic violence should immediately report any abuse to the police department. Despite reassurances from the batterer, incidents of domestic violence may continue to increase in both intensity and frequency. We encourage victims of domestic violence to obtain a restraining order against a batterer to further protect family members and themselves from continued abuse.

Due to legal constraints, subjects arrested for domestic violence may be released at any time. Victims of domestic violence are encouraged to use the Victim Notification Everyday (V.I.N.E.) www.vinelink.com service to be automatically contacted prior to the subject’s release from custody.

Domestic Violence Assistance Programs

These shelters provide safe housing, counseling, and other services:

• Human Options Hotline - (949) 854-3554
• Interval House Hotline - (714) 891-8121
• Laura's House Hotline - (949) 498-1511
• Waymakers - (714) 935-7956
• Women's Transitional Living Center Hotline - (714) 992-1931

Court Orders

A victim of domestic violence has the right to file a petition with the Superior Court requesting a restraining order. There are no fees charged for obtaining a Temporary Restraining Order under the Domestic Violence Prevention Act. Victims of domestic violence may file a petition requesting orders for relief including:

• Restraining the abuser from attacking the victim and other family members
• Directing the abuser to leave the household
• Preventing the attacker from entering the residence, school, business, place of employment, etc. of the victim
• Restraining the abuser from interfering with minor children in the custody of the victim
• Temporary custody of minor children
• Restrain the restrained person from bothering or interfering with minor children in the protected person’s custody
• Direct the restrained person to pay for the support of minor children if he or she has a legal obligation to do so
• Direct the restrained person to make specified payments coming due while the order is in effect
• Direct that either one or both parties participate in counseling

Enforcing Court Restraining Orders

After you file a restraining order with the court, the restrained person must be served with a copy of the order before it can be enforced. A copy of the order must also be filed with the police agency having jurisdiction over the protected person’s residence. After a restraining order has been properly served and filed, the restrained person is subject to arrest for any violation of the order.

Assistance with Protective Orders

For more information or assistance with filing a temporary restraining order:

• Waymakers - (714) 935-7956
• Orange County Family Justice Center - (714) 765-1645
• Santa Ana Family Justice Center - (714) 245-8278