Objectives

• To understand those circumstances in which a social worker is required by law to report an incidence of violence or a threat of harm and how to do so in a way which best supports the survivor of domestic violence.
• To understand what a 209A restraining order is and how a survivor of domestic violence can obtain one.
• To understand the role and responsibilities of Victim Witness Advocates stationed in the District Attorney's Offices of local court houses and what a survivor of domestic violence can expect from the criminal justice system.
• To increase awareness and knowledge about the special circumstances for an immigrant survivor of domestic violence.

Note: This unit describes the general legal issues all social workers should understand related to domestic violence, with special attention to Massachusetts-specific laws. To access the laws specific to other states see: http://www.ndvh.org/ or http://www.ncadv.org.