When a person attempts to persuade or actually persuades his or her intimate partner from testifying in a criminal proceeding, from answering questions asked by any law enforcement agency or from initiating a criminal complaint, he or she may be charged with intimidating his or her intimate partner as an intimate partner abuse crime in California. LGBT partners involved in a same sex relationship include those who are living together or dating, those who have children together, those who are civilly united and those who used to be involved in one of these relationships.

The consequences that California imposes on its domestic violence offenders are severe, because they are designed to hopefully rehabilitate a defendant and to deter future abusive conduct. In a joint effort to “stop the violence,” many government and private organizations have come forward to provide services to those who are affected by domestic abuse – for both victims and perpetrators – in the hopes of preventing fatal or near-fatal abusive conduct before it is too late.

Resources are available to people of every economic, ethnic and religious background. Members of the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community will also find services that are specific and sensitive to the unique issues that they face being involved in a same sex relationship that is affected by domestic violence, although it should be noted that these services aren’t nearly as prevalent as those provided to the heterosexual community. These programs do exist, however, and a GLBT supportive California domestic violence lawyer may be a good person from whom to seek such a referral.

Resources often include different types of counseling, educational programs, transition services and financial assistance. Depending on the individual, there are sure to be services that will meets anyone’s needs. Counseling is offered to both victims of intimate partner abuse and to those who need help letting go of control over their partners in individual and group settings. The purpose of counseling is to explore the personal reasons why an individual might stay in an abusive relationship or why an individual might succumb to violent or abusive outbreaks and to try to create an awareness that might lead to a violence-free life for both. Substance abuse issues may also be addressed in counseling for the individual who requires this type of additional help. Educational programs range in variety and may include batterer’s classes for the individual who may need help restoring balance to his or her relationship or vocational classes or self-defense classes for the individual who may need help becoming financially self-sufficient or who may need to prevent further abusive attacks. Temporary shelters and financial assistance programs are also available to help a victim of abuse anonymously and temporarily take shelter until he or she can find a more permanent residence and get back on his or her feet. It must be noted that a non-heterosexual must secure temporary housing in a shelter that is specifically set up for such individuals to prevent one’s same sex abuser from having access to the same shelter – a concern that heterosexual victims simply don’t share.

Resources may be accessed through a variety of places, including the Internet, over the phone or through private referrals. The Internet offers a plethora of resources to an individual seeking help and some of the best include SAFE (Stop Abuse For Everyone) and The National Domestic Violence Hotline (which can also be accessed by phone at 1-800-799-SAFE). Both sites offer a variety of services that cater specifically to the needs of the homosexual community. In addition, the caring, LGBT-friendly attorneys at the Kavinoky Law Firm have law offices in Los Angeles and throughout California and are available to provide referrals to service providers throughout the state. To discuss an intimate partner intimidation case or for questions about any other DV related matter, contact them today for a free consultation.