HopeHouse

Bill* was an abuser known to sneak into Julie’s* house by unscrewing the light bulb on the front porch so he could not be seen from the street. The police and Hope House court advocates had been called out to Julie’s house several times, but Bill would never be there when they arrived. He always seemed to get away, and the stalking and abuse continued.

Advocates and detectives revisited with Julie several times as the incidents and violence escalated. Julie needed a safety plan and was able to devise one with the help of her Hope House advocate.

The plan was brilliant in its simplicity: knowing that Bill always entered the house after unscrewing the porch light, Julie would now keep the porch light on at all times. If at any time the light was off, Julie’s neighbor was to call the police.  

Within 24 hours, the neighbor noticed that the porch light was off. She immediately called 911. When the police arrived, they caught Bill breaking in through a basement window, armed with a loaded gun.  

The safety plan that Julie and her advocate had devised saved her life… and the lives of her children who were in the house with her at the time!  

Hope House Court Advocates work with Eastern Jackson County police departments and attempt to contact victims within 24 hours of receiving a police report. They are also present in court during protection order hearings to guide victims through the process and provide moral support.  

The Court Advocates educate victims about the dynamics of battering relationships, discuss the services available at Hope House, explain the procedures for obtaining ex parte Orders of Protection, as well as work with the Domestic Violence Investigator to target persistent offenders.  They also provide domestic violence trainings and awareness materials for law enforcement, court personnel and members of the judiciary.  

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*names have been changed

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