Safety Planning Off Campus
SAFETY PLANNING OFF-CAMPUS
If you feel threatened by a current or former partner, it is best to plan for your safety before you are in a potentially violent situation. Leaving a relationship with an abusive partner can be a very dangerous time; therefore it is important to plan for your safety whether or not you are ready to leave your partner.
Increasing safety during an explosive incident
- Call the police at 911 for emergency assistance.
- If an argument is unavoidable, try to position yourself where you can easily get away. Avoid kitchens, bathrooms, or other areas where weapons may be available.
- Identify at least one roommate and/or neighbor that you can tell about your situation and ask them to call the police if they hear a disturbance coming from your apartment/home.
Increasing safety when the relationship is over
- You may obtain a restraining order or an order of protection from local authorities. Student Legal Services (919-515-7091) can assist you with this process. Keep a copy of your order with you at all times.
- Notify your roommate, landlord, and/or neighbors that you are no longer in a relationship with your former partner.
- You can change your phone number, email address and/or your location of residence. If you are having trouble breaking a lease, Student Legal Services may be able to assist you.
- If you stay at the same residence, you can change the locks, install smoke detectors, install an outside lighting system, and/or install a security system.
- You may want to notify your employer and fellow workers of your situation so they may screen your calls and/or visitors.
- You may want to consider changing your class and work schedule and the routes you take both on-campus and off-campus. It is also a good idea to avoid places that your former partner knows you frequent, such as gyms, dining locations, bars and parties, etc.
- If you have children, notify childcare workers and school administrators of the people who have permission to pick up your children.
- If you have children, discuss your safety plan with them. Let their school and daycare providers know of your situation.
- If your abusive partner is also an NC State student, you can file a complaint with the Office of Student Conduct at (919-515-2963).
- You may want to alert your professors to your situation. It may also be possible to change your class schedule, depending on the time of the semester and your individual situation.
Improving your emotional well-being
- Identify at least two people that you can call for support if you feel depressed or ready to return to a potentially abusive situation.
- Seek individual or group counseling to gain support and strengthen your relationships with other people.
