Riverside Police Department

Family Justice Center - Domestic Violence Unit

The Domestic Violence Unit of the Riverside Police Department investigates all crimes involving domestic violence and physical elder abuse. The Domestic Violence Unit works closely with the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office and joined forces with the Riverside County Family Justice Center. The Domestic Violence Unit is comprised of one supervisor and five detectives.

If you have a domestic violence emergency, you should immediately call 9-1-1.

How do I find out who is my "case agent?"

Call the Centralized Investigations Bureau's front office at (951) 353-7100. Be prepared to provide the report number assigned to the investigation by the police officer that took the initial report. If you don't have the report number, ask to speak with a domestic violence detective or the unit supervisor.

What is Domestic Violence?

Domestic Violence is a pattern of behavior where one partner tries to maintain control of the other using physical force, intimidation, threats, isolation from family and friends, humiliation, financial control, destruction of property and more.

Domestic Violence involves abuse committed against any person, any gender, adult or minor who is a spouse, former spouse, cohabitant, former cohabitant (intimate), dating or former dating, engagement - current or past, or having a child in common.

What is Elder Abuse?

Abuse, caregiver neglect or unjustified physical or mental suffering committed against a person 65 years or older or a dependent adult between the ages of 18 and 64.

The criteria for elder abuse cases include those relationships listed for domestic violence as well as parent/child, grandparent/grandchild and elder/paid, primary or licensed caregiver.

The Riverside Police Department works closely with Adult Protective Services in order to accurately assess the seriousness of each case and provide maximum advocacy services to the victim.

Domestic violence puts your children at risk even if you think they don't witness the abuse.

Children often hear the conflict and witness the aftermath, such as bruises, black eyes, or broken bones.

Here are some examples of how your child may react to being exposed to domestic violence:

• Eating and sleeping disorders (nightmares)

• Separation anxiety

• Aggressive behaviors (anger), regressive behaviors (wetting the bed)

• Difficulty concentrating

• Guilt for not being able to stop the abuse or loving the abuser

• Taking responsibly for the abuse

• Constant anxiety (that another beating may take place)

• Fear of abandonment

Domestic Violence Criminal Proceedings

Victims of domestic violence should immediately call their local police for assistance. Any physical evidence of the violence should be kept for the police. Once the police are called on a domestic violence incident, they will interview all persons involved and arrest the batterer when possible and obtain medical aid for the victim when necessary. The Riverside Police Department will assist the victim to obtain an emergency protective order if needed. Officers can also provide victims with information regarding emergency shelter (24 hour hotline 1-800-339-Safe or in Riverside local calling area (951) 683-0829) and Domestic Violence resources. The officer will then write a report which will be forwarded to the Riverside Police Domestic Violence Unit. The Riverside County District Attorney will decide if the case will be filed.

The victim becomes a witness for the State and unlike civil court, cannot decide whether or not to prosecute or "press charges." This means that the State may prosecute even when the victim does not want to prosecute. This is in effect so that a batterer will understand that coercing or scaring a victim into requesting that charges be dropped is not an effective means of avoiding criminal proceedings.

Once a criminal case is filed, a victim should contact the Riverside County Family Justice Center.

The Riverside Family Justice Center

The Riverside Family Justice Center provides victims of domestic violence with centralized access to public and private resources in a safe, secure, and private environment.

The services include legal assistance, victim/witness services, court and hospital accompaniment, crisis intervention, emergency assistance, information and referral, and access to law enforcement and prosecutors.

Domestic Violence Victim Resources

Family Justice Center Riverside County at (951) 955-6100 or online at http://www.rivcoda.org/VS/FJC_RIV.html

The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) is the most important piece of federal legislation in the movement to end dating abuse. Contact the Office on Violence Against Women at http://www.ovw.usdoj.gov/

Alternative to Domestic Violence

24 HOUR CRISIS LINES (951) 683-0829

National Domestic Violence Hotline

1.800.799.SAFE (7233)
Confidential 24 hours a day/7 days a week

Answers to many questions about domestic violence are contained in a consumer education pamphlet entitled "Can the Law Protect Me from Domestic Violence?" published by the State Bar of California. It is on the Bar's website at www.calbar.ca.gov and can be ordered by calling (888) 875-5297.