Quarantined with Her Abuser
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Jessie* was trapped.
With the whole city in quarantine due to COVID-19, Jessie was stuck in her apartment with her abusive boyfriend.
He was threatening her, isolating her—telling her she was worthless, and that no help would come. There was no use calling the police, he’d say—they would never believe her.
She told us everything: how she was barricading herself in different rooms of her apartment, terrified of her abuser.
Jessie managed to sneak a call to the Safe Families Office, the courthouse-based walk-in clinic that we co-run with Partnership Against Domestic Violence. She told us everything: how she was barricading herself in different rooms of her apartment, terrified of her abuser.
One day in early May, Jessie locked herself in the bathroom and connected to a video call. Our staff helped Jessie meet virtually with a Fulton County judge, who granted her an immediate Temporary Protective Order—giving her immediate legal possession of her apartment without ever needing to come into the courthouse.
He tried to argue that Jessie was crazy, that he had every right to be in her apartment.
AVLF Staff Attorney Erika Voreh coordinated with our Legal Outreach and Education Coordinator Cynthia Padilla Pearson, who has worked extensively with local police precincts to help them better serve survivors of intimate partner abuse. Cynthia coordinated with the Atlanta Police Department and Fulton County Sheriff’s office to figure out a plan to serve Jessie’s abuser with the Protective Order—and evict him from her home for good.
Within hours, Jessie was able to secretly call 911. The officers were ready, and deputies arrived within seconds of the call.
Now, Jessie can walk around her apartment freely.
They served the abuser with a printed copy of the Order. He tried to argue that Jessie was crazy, that he had every right to be there, but the police didn’t budge. They removed him from the property.
Now, Jessie can walk around her apartment freely.
Due to the judicial emergency surrounding COVID-19, all Protective Orders are extended indefinitely until the courts re-open. That means that Jessie’s order will keep her legally protected until the restrictions are lifted.
Jessie’s protective order—along with a backlog of more than 500 others and counting—will have to go through a hearing in order to be extended after quarantine.
But Jessie’s protective order—along with a backlog of more than 500 others and counting—will have to go through a hearing in order to be extended after quarantine.
This means that eventually, if Jessie wants to extend the order, she will have to be in the courtroom with her abuser.
We’re recruiting and training volunteer attorneys to stand with survivors as they face their abusers in court. If you’re able, consider becoming a sustaining supporter of our organization. No matter how much you contribute, your monthly support makes this work possible.
*Names and some details have been changed to protect our client’s identity.
These are the stories that keep us going. With your help, we can continue to stand with Jessie and others when they need it most.
