While predominantly affecting women, family violence also affects children (child abuse), seniors (elder abuse), and male family members, who can also be victims of abuse. In San Antonio, Family Violence reported to the Police Department typically involves a woman who has been assaulted by her male partner.
Men and women who follow their parents' example and use violence to solve conflicts are teaching the same destructive behavior to their children. Jobs can be lost or careers stalled because of injuries, arrests, or harassment. Family Violence can even result in death.
Protect yourself from the dangers
of Domestic Violence
SAPD responds to and carefully tracks reported incidents of domestic violence, according to SAPD General Manual Procedures and the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure. Arrest is required when the assault is committed in the officer's presence, when bodily injury was committed just prior to the officers' arrival, or when the injury has been committed to a child. A special Family Violence Report must be filed by any officer who investigates a family violence allegation or who responds to a family disturbance call.
Whenever possible, a SAPD Crisis Response Team (CRT) will contact participants in a family violence call after the reporting officer has filed the report. The CRT, made up of a police officer and a civilian counselor, offers assistance to all parties in the domestic problem, including victim assistance, counseling, and referrals.
Each of the six San Antonio Police Department Substations has a Crisis Response Team, made up of one police officer and one civilian counselor. CRT members provide counselling for family members involved in domestic violence problems which have come to the attention of the police.
CRT members generally provide this service after the police officer has turned in a Family Violence report. CRT members can also be contacted at the substation to provide counselling and referrals to participants in family disputes.
The San Antonio Police Department also provides counseling and referral services to victims of any violent crime, through the Victims' Advocacy Office, located at the SAPD Main Headquarters Building, 214 West Nueva.
Available services include:
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Learn what to do if you've been a victim of Family Violence.
In 1995, the National Resource Center on Domestic Violence (NRCDV) convened several national domestic violence organizations to launch a new effort to support domestic violence programs' awareness and education efforts for Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM), observed annually in October.
The collaborative effort became the Domestic Violence Awareness Project (DVAP). Read more about the Domestic Violence Awareness Project
Have you or someone you know ever experienced the following by a boyfriend / girlfriend, husband / wife, or intimate partner:
Read more about how to recognize and prevent Domestic Violence.