Domestic or Intimate Partner Violence (DV or IPV)

Please refer to immediate practical matters for additional urgent needs and concerns. This section gives a quick overview of specific types of crimes or incidents that you may have experienced. At the end of each section is a list of related resources under Agencies involved.

Contact info for agencies involved is in RESOURCES.

Refer to Sexual Assault/Rape section for information on medical care, Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) nurses, Mandatory Reporting, forensic medical exams, victim witness advocacy, and legal advocacy.

Legal issues, safety and privacy

Personal safety considerations are important [See Immediate Practical Matters].

Specific legal needs may include restraining, protective or stay away orders; issues of child custody; divorce or separation. There is affordable/free legal help for both civil and criminal legal matters. The NOFJC (Mary Claire’s Place, formerly Crescent House), Project Save, Southeast Louisiana Legal Services (SLLS), the Tulane Domestic Violence Law Clinic, and the Loyola Children’s Welfare and DV Clinic, are a few agencies who offer such help [See Civil Legal and Criminal Legal Matters].

Consider working with a trained advocate (from NOFJC or Metro) to create a safety plan / assessment. This might include informing trusted friends, family, neighbors, workmates or schools; having check-in times; documenting evidence of abuse; gathering important documents (or copies) and keeping them in a safe place; having extra keys; and/or having an emergency bag with essentials, medications, and cash. Learn more at this website: https://lcadv.org/get-help/safety-planning-steps/.

A DV/IPV victim can request a landlord to release them early from a lease but must have proof of domestic violence happening in the past 30 days, via a restraining order or certification (La R.S. 9:3261.1). You can get legal help from NOFJC, or through SLLS; also see Legal Assistance in our RESOURCES.
If you move to a new (private) location, you can apply to the state’s Address Confidentiality Program.
Online safety considerations are important. If you use the internet, remember to clean your internet search history. Refer to the National Network to End Domestic Violence guide: https://www.techsafety.org/resources-survivors.

Gwen’s Law Hearings occur before bail is set, when someone is charged with domestic abuse battery, violation of a protective order, stalking, or any felony offense involving the use of a deadly weapon or force upon a family member, household member, or partner. This can result in the individual who has been arrested remaining in custody and not being able to immediately post bail, as a safety measure for the survivor of abuse.

A restraining/protective order has various time lengths, depending on circumstances, and there are criminal and civil protective orders.

When restraining/protective/stay away orders are in effect, the person who harmed you is legally barred from contacting you or coming within a certain set physical distance.

Visit https://www.lasc.org/LPOR-FAQ for more information.
Other conditions may be attached to restraining orders. The person who harmed you may have to pay temporary child support and/or may have to stay away from children or have supervised visits; may be liable for other payments; may have to relinquish firearms and/or attend a treatment program, etc.
A criminal court judge can issue a criminal protective order in a case where criminal charges are filed for domestic abuse.
Anyone can file to request a civil restraining or protective order, and advocacy groups (listed at the end of this section) can help you fill out the paperwork.
A temporary restraining order (TRO) is granted without giving notice to the person you have filed it against (this is called ex parte), but it only lasts until the hearing date that is set.
To get a permanent protective order, you must attend the hearing (bring a copy of your petition and the TRO) and convince the judge it is necessary. If the judge agrees, they can issue a permanent order for up to 18 months.
Bring a hard copy of any evidence and documents to the hearing, because phones are typically not allowed in courtrooms.
In 2026, Act 752 (SB 259) created an online application portal for civil protective orders (which has not been released yet), to be maintained by the State Supreme Court.
Consult with an advocacy group or attorney for filing assistance. See Groups you can reach out to for help, below.

Criminal legal agencies involved

NOPD Special Victims; Orleans District Attorney’s Office DA (after arrest); Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office OPSO (if accused is jailed); Federal agencies (some cases); Clerk Connect (to track an Orleans criminal court case) and LA Vine (to sign up for victim notifications of custody status); Crime Victims’ Compensation (CVC) (financial help)

Forensic medical exams (to get a sexual assault/rape kit): NOFJC Hope Clinic, UMC, Tulane Lakeside, Children’s Hospital, Children’s Advocacy Centers

For civil legal support

NOFJC (Mary Claire’s Place, formerly Crescent House), Project Save, Tulane Domestic Violence Law Clinic; Loyola Children’s Welfare and DV Clinic, SLLS (civil legal aid)

Groups you can reach out to for help

New Orleans Family Justice Center NOFJC; Sexual Trauma Awareness and Response STAR; Metro Centers for Community Advocacy METRO; Arin’s Nesting Place (New Orleans area organization helping victim-survivors of domestic violence); SilenceIsViolence (support groups/services, all types of violence with focus on gun violence); LSR (support groups, all types of violence); UMC Seeds of NOLA Trauma Recovery Center (support groups, all types of violence); StrongHearts (for AIAN individuals, national helpline); VIET (Vietnamese Initiatives, local); Title IX (see College & School Campus Crimes section below); Beyond Harm (restorative approaches and counseling, focused on the person who caused the harm)

For housing/relocation assistance, see our Housing section in RESOURCES

For information on address confidentiality, visit our guide to Louisiana’s Address Confidentiality Program (ACP)

Stalking

Stalking involves a pattern of behavior (often unpredictable) causing a reasonable person to fear for their safety or the safety of others; or from actions that create substantial emotional distress, such as unwanted contact, monitoring, property damage, threats, etc.

Because the conditions of stalking incidents can vary so widely, contact trained advocacy groups (e.g. NOFJC, STAR, SPARC, RAINN) for more specific information based upon your own circumstances.
Call 911 if you feel you are in immediate danger.
Work with a trained advocate (e.g. STAR, NOFJC) to create a safety plan. They can also help you with filing protection orders if needed (See previous sections focused on Sexual Assault and DV/IPV).
Be aware of technological stalking, and get assistance to secure your personal devices. Refer to the National Network to End Domestic Violence (NNEDV)’s guide to tech safety for survivors: https://www.techsafety.org/resources-survivors
You can go to the SPARC website and anonymously complete their Stalking & Harassment Assessment & Risk Profile (SHARP); they also list other resources and info.

Criminal legal agencies involved

For civil legal support

NOFJC (Mary Claire’s Place, formerly Crescent House), Project Save, Tulane Domestic Violence Law Clinic; SLLS (civil legal aid)

Groups you can reach out to for help

For housing/relocation assistance, see our Housing section in RESOURCES

For information on address confidentiality, visit our guide to Louisiana’s Address Confidentiality Program (ACP)

Human Trafficking

Human trafficking is a federal crime that occurs when someone is exploited for profit via labor services or commercial sex, using “force, fraud or coercion” (FBI definition).

Survivors of human trafficking are often subjected to threats and/or harm; withholding of money; no access to identity documents; being constantly monitored—they are often afraid to ask for help. If you suspect trafficking, it’s a good idea to call one of the agencies listed below, or 911 (rather than putting yourself in danger).

The federal Blue Campaign lists common signs of trafficking: www.dhs.gov/blue-campaign/indicators-human-trafficking.
Blue Campaign Tip Line: 1 (866) 347-2423.
National Human Trafficking hotline: 1 (888) 373-7888 or text BeFree: 233733 (Text “HELP” or “INFO”).
National Center for Missing & Exploited Children: 1 (800) 843-5678.

Criminal legal agencies involved

For civil legal support

NOFJC (Mary Claire’s Place, formerly Crescent House), Project Save, Tulane Domestic Violence Law Clinic; SLLS (civil legal aid)

Groups you can reach out to for help

New Orleans Family Justice Center NOFJC; Sexual Trauma Awareness and Response STAR; Metro Centers for Community Advocacy METRO; Greater New Orleans Human Trafficking Task Force GNOHTTF; Eden Centers for Hope and Healing; Unbound Now

Forensic medical exams (to get a sexual assault/rape kit): NOFJC Hope Clinic, UMC, Tulane Lakeside, Children’s Hospital, Children’s Advocacy Centers

For housing/relocation assistance, see our Housing section in RESOURCES

For information on address confidentiality, visit our guide to Louisiana’s Address Confidentiality Program (ACP)