How do I make police charges restraining orders stick?

greenspun.com : LUSENET : domestic violence : One Thread

Dear Readers:

I'm in an odd situation with my my family right now. I have had a very tumultuous relationship with my mother and brother most of my life. My mother is very abusive and used to enable my brother to hit me, when I was in my teens. When I tried to file assault charges as a teen, the police simply treated me like a runaway and dumped me back at home. Social services were useless.

I am currently in a situation which I fear that may cause retaliation from my family. I am seeing a therapist and I am receiving services from the Gatehouse to finally deal with the emotional issues I've usually had to deal with alone. In the past when I spoke to a counselor who tried to intervene with my family to help (and HELP not accuse my mother of abuse) My mother allowed my brother to beat me for talking. I am afraid since I am doing the same thing once again I might get the same response. My one option is to move, and change my phone number, and/or never tell them I'm in therapy. But since I love to keep contact with my grandmother and aunt and uncle this may be difficult.

Since I find the Toronto Police to be relatively useless on the issue of domestic violence I fear I might not get the help or protection I need at the right moment. My brother has a current file on him for uttering death threats at previous girlfriends but he was never charged with anything. Has anyone ever had dealings with the Toronto Police on a similar issue? If so how did you deal with it and how did you make things stick.

Lee

-- Anonymous, December 04, 2002


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