You may be able to get a Civil Protection Order (CPO) if your abuser physically hurt, threatened to harm you, sexually assaulted, stalked you, destroyed your property or committed some other crime against you. You must live or work in DC OR at least one incident must have occurred in DC, and you AND your abuser must be connected/related in one of the following ways:

• Have or have had a dating, romantic, or sexual relationship, or
• Share a child, or 
• Be related (although you can obtain a CPO against a stranger or acquaintance who has sexually assaulted or stalked you).

You may ask the judge to remove your abuser from the family home or grant you temporary custody of your children. To ask a court to order your abuser to stop abusing you, you will need to file a Petition for a Civil Protection Order. After filing your Petition the court will schedule your trial date to determine whether they will grant you a Civil Protection Order for up to 2 years. If your safety or welfare is immediately endangered, you can request a Temporary Protection Order that will protect you until your hearing date.

You may be eligible for immigration relief regardless of the immigration status of your abuser or their willingness to help with the immigration process. If your abuser is in the U.S., you may be eligible for relief through the Violence Against Women Act, a U or T visa, or other relief option. If you fled your country because you suffered persecution based on your gender or other aspect of your identity, you may be eligible for an asylum claim.

Under the DC Protection from Discriminatory Evictions for Victims of Domestic Violence Amendment Act, you have rights to have your abuser removed from a Section 8 voucher or lease, to break your lease early to flee violence, to have your locks changed, and to be protected against eviction for experiencing a crime of domestic violence. You are also protected by the Violence Against Women Act (for public housing programs only) and the DC Human Rights Act from discrimination based on your status as a victim.   

Under the DC Employment Protections for Victims of Domestic Violence, Sexual Offenses, and Stalking Amendment Act of 2018, you have the right to request time off to participate in legal proceedings related to domestic violence and to request reasonable accommodations including but not limited to reassignment, a modified schedule, or the implementation of safety procedures. You are also protected from being fired from your job based on your status as a victim by the DC Human Rights Act. 

Visit the Office on Human Rights at www.ohr.dc.gov for more information on your rights and filing a complaint.

You may be eligible for tax relief (e.g., Innocent Spouse Waiver) if your spouse forced you to file a false tax form or filed without your knowledge. You are protected from discrimination based on your status as a victim by the DC Human Rights Act and cannot be denied access to government benefits, services, or programs because you are a victim. As a victim of a crime, you may have the right to crime victim compensation.

For more information or to file an application, visit: www.dccourts.gov/services/crime-victims-compensation-matters.

If you decide to pursue criminal charges against your abuser, you have rights protected by the federal Crime Victim’s Rights Act and by the DC Crime Victim’s Bill of Rights. This includes the right to be present at all proceedings, the right to provide your opinion on any plea bargain, the right to give a statement about the impact of the crime, and the right to have your privacy protected.

Talk to the prosecutor or visit: ovsjg.dc.gov/page/crime-victims-legal-rights for more information.