Resources & Information for Victims of Domestic Violence

The Camas Police Department's response to incidents of domestic violence and violations of related court orders stresses enforcement of the law to protect the victim and communicates the philosophy that domestic violence is criminal behavior. It is also the policy of this department to facilitate victims' and offenders' access to appropriate civil remedies and community resources whenever feasible.

Victims of domestic violence who are concerned about the pending release of an offender can visit the VINELink website. VINELink is the online version of VINE (Victim Information and Notification Everyday), the National Victim Notification Network. This service allows crime victims to obtain timely and reliable information about criminal cases and the custody status of offenders 24 hours a day. Victims and other concerned citizens can also register to be notified by phone, email, or TTY device when an offender’s custody status changes. Users can also register through their participating state or county toll-free number.

The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) also provides eligible victims and witnesses access to information regarding a criminal alien’s release                                                                     from custody. Visit Victim Notification on the ICE website for more information.

Warning Signs of Abuse

You may be experiencing domestic violence if your partner does any of the following:

• Insults you, in public or in private
• Monitors your whereabouts and contact with others
• Puts down your friends and family
• Tells you jealousy is a sign of love
• Destroys your belongings
• Blocks exits during arguments
• Controls your access to money, transportation, or cell phone
• Threatens to hurt you, people you care about, or your pets
• Forces you to have sex
• Touches you in ways that hurt or scare you
• Tells you that the abuse is your fault, and that your fears are not important

Warning Signs of Abuse was taken from the YWCA of Clark County’s SafeChoice pamphlet “Love Shouldn’t Hurt” and the US Department of Human Services and US Department of Justice statistics. If you think you may be a victim of domestic violence, click here to take the MOSAIC assessment.

Victim’s Rights

IF YOU ARE THE VICTIM OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, you can ask the city or county prosecuting attorney to file a criminal complaint. You also have the right to file a petition in superior, district, or municipal court requesting an order for protection from domestic abuse which could include any of the following:

• an order restraining your abuser from further acts of abuse.
• an order directing your abuser to leave your household.

• An order preventing your abuser from entering your residence, school, business, or place of employment.
• an order awarding you or the other parent custody of or visitation with your minor child or children; and
• an order restraining your abuser from molesting or interfering with minor children in your custody; and
• an order requiring your abuser to turn in any firearms and concealed pistol license in the abuser’s possession or control to law enforcement and prohibiting the abuser from possessing or accessing firearms or a concealed pistol license for the duration of the civil order.

The forms you need to obtain a protection order are available in any municipal, district, or superior court. Information about shelters and alternatives to domestic violence is available from a statewide twenty-four-hour toll-free hotline at 800-562-6025.

You can get the forms required to file an Order for Protection at:
Superior Court Clerk’s Office, 1200 Franklin Street Vancouver, WA 98668

For Assistance and filing information call:
Victim Witness Assistance: 360-487-8545 or YWCA 360-696-0167

To get information about the status of your case contact:
The Domestic Violence Prosecution Center, 1101 Broadway St #120 Vancouver, WA 98660, Phone: 360-487-8530

Resources

YWCA of Clark County

ywcaclarkcounty.org
3609 Main Street
Vancouver, WA 98663

General: 360-696-0167
Toll Free: 1-800-695-0167
360-695-0501 Hotline
Sexual Assault 24-Hour Hotline: 800-695-0167

The YWCA domestic violence shelter provides emergency shelter to a woman or a man with or without children fleeing physical, emotional, and verbal abuse.

Crime Victim Service Centers (CVSC)

Emergency Support Shelter
Phone: 360-353-5777 x 14

National Domestic Violence Hotline:
1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or
TTY 1-800-787-3224.

Washington State Coalition Against Domestic Violence

Washington State Domestic Violence Hotline
1-800-562-6025

Visit the Washington State Crime Victims Compensation page to see if you qualify for compensation and to access the application.

Safety alert: Computer use can be monitored and is impossible to completely clear. If you are afraid your internet and/or computer usage might be monitored, please use a safer computer, call your local hotline at the YWCA Safe Choice 360-695-0501, and/or call the Washington State Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-562-6025.

Links

• National Domestic Violence Hotline
• Washington State Domestic Violence Hotline
• SafeChoice Program — YWCA Clark County