SBC Victim / Witness Assistance Center: Domestic Violence

San Benito County Victim/Witness Assistance Center
419 Fourth Street, Hollister, CA 95023

(831) 637-8244

Domestic Violence

What Are Your Rights in a Relationship?

You Have The Right...

To express your opinions and have them be respected
To have your needs be as important as your partner's needs
To grow as an individual in your own way
To change your mind
To not take responsibility for your partner's behavior
To not be physically, emotionally or sexually abused
And, you have the right to break up and fall out of love with someone and not be threatened

Are You Being Abused?

Ask Yourself These Questions...

Are you frightened by your partner's temper?
Are you afraid to disagree?
Are you constantly spologizing for your partner's behavior, especially when he or she has treated you badly?
Do you have to justify everything you do, every place you go, or every person you see just to avoid your partner's anger?
Does your partner put you down, but then tells you that he or she loves you?
Have you ever been hit, kicked, shoved, or had things thrown at you?
Do you not see friends or family because of your partner's jealousy?
Have you been forced into having sex when you didn't want to?
Are you afraid to break up because your partner has threatened to hurt you, someone else or themselves?

Are You Being Abusive?

Ask Yourself These Questions...

Do you constantly check up on your partner and accuse them of being with other people?
Are you extremely jealous or possessive?
Do you have an explosive temper?
Have you hit, kicked, shoved, or thrown things at your partner?
Do you constantly criticize or insult your partner?
Do you become violent when you drink or use drugs?
Have you threatened your partner or broken things in his or her presence?
Have you forced your partner to have sex with you, or intimidated your partner so he or she is afraid to say no?
Have you threatened to hurt your partner or harm something meaningful to you or your partner?
Have you threatened to hurt yourself if he or she breaks up with you or leaves you?

Domestic violence restraining orders

A petition must be filed at the San Benito County Court House, Fifth Street, Hollister, CA to obtain court-ordered relief of the following situations:

An order restraining the attacker from abusing the victim or other family members.
An order directing the attacker to leave the household.
An order preventing the attacker from entering the residence, school, business, or workplace of the victim.
An order awarding custody or visitations with a minor child or children.
An order restraining the attacker from molesting or interfering with minor children in the custody of the victim.
An order directing payment of child support for minor children.

The case number of the Hollister Police Department or the San Benito County Sheriff's Office report documenting the crime may be obtained from either agency. Please retain this number as it may be helpful to you and personnel at the Victim/Witness Assistance Center as you process your application for assistance.

For more about Domestic Violence, read an original article, entitled Domestic Violence 101, by Katie Fancher, Project Coordinator.

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This site is not a substitute for professional help. It is here to highlight the services offered by the San Benito County Victim/Witness Assistance Center and to offer basic, helpful suggestions. The Center serves Hollister, San Juan Bautista, Tres Pinos and the rest of San Benito County, California. The Victim/Witness Assistance Center claims no responsibility for the use of this site, use of it's content, or content of any links leading from this site.