Your Voice Matters.

Leaving your abuser ought to be the hardest part, but for many of us, the process of seeking protection and justice after the relationship ends can be just as, if not more traumatizing.

The system is broken and in order to fix it, we must first understand how, when, and why the entities in place to protect us so often fail to do so.

That’s where you come in.

If you feel that your physical safety and/or mental health were put in jeopardy due to the way law enforcement and/or courts handled your case, we’d love to hear from you.

Together, we can leverage our lived experiences to advocate for improved policies that prioritize the safety and emotional well-being of survivors.

FAQ

  • The most dangerous time of an abusive relationship is when you finally leave… and yet, we’ve found that far too often, the law/legal aftermath only makes matters worse.

    We’re collecting stories from domestic violence survivors to identify and better understand the many ways that these cases are mismanaged—especially those that ultimately put the victim in harm’s way rather than protect them.

    We’ll use these stories to lobby for change, as well as to help fellow survivors feel seen, heard, and understood during a notoriously lonely and isolating time.

  • Rather than focusing on the abuse that occurred in your relationship, we ask you to concentrate on what happened AFTER you left your abuser.

    How were you failed by the system(s) that should have protected you?

    Were you put in unnecessary danger, or left with undue burden to advocate for yourself?

    Did you have to fight to be heard or believed?

    Were you given adequate resources and information to help you stay up-to-date on your own case?

    Basically, we’d like to hear about the struggles you faced in seeking protection and/or justice—specifically as it relates to law enforcement and court officials.

  • Yes, of course! We will not share your name (or any identifying details) without your permission.

    If you’d like to remain anonymous, you can let us know in the submission form.

  • Your story is your own. If you submit a story and later decide that you’d like to take it back, or that you’d prefer to share anonymously but did not indicate so on the submission form, please contact us and we will respect your wishes, no questions asked.

    You can email survivorstories@redtapetalks.com or call (617) 858-0133‬ to edit or redact your submission.

  • We’re accepting story submissions from domestic violence survivors who are at least 18 years of age and reside in the United States.