Content warning: This article heavily mentions domestic violence and abuse, including death. Please read with caution.
When someone is experiencing domestic violence (DV), one of their paths to safety is a domestic violence restraining order (DVRO). A core piece of the work of the Los Angeles (LA) County Office of Violence Prevention is to connect survivors of DV with DVRO resources, which offers victims of DV legal protection from being assaulted or abused by an intimate partner. DVROs differ from traditional restraining orders, which are usually a piece of a larger legal case. By restraining a DV abuser from contacting or harassing the holder of the restraining order, DVROs can be lifesaving. (Benitez et al., 2010; Holt et al., 2002) However, in LA County, the process to obtain one was riddled with long, confusing steps, contributing to a 30% drop-out rate. The LA County Office of Violence Prevention sought our help to clarify the process to file for a DVRO and identify and address barriers to this critical protection order.
Our team of strategists worked with an existing cohort of DV providers, community leaders, law enforcement officials, City and County departments, and service providers to answer a key question:
Together, we engaged in a robust system mapping project to fully understand the process to obtain a DVRO, including the barriers preventing completion, and we envisioned a future state of the system that issues more DVROs and is better positioned to support survivors from a human-centered and equity-focused perspective. This process featured three main parts:
Prior to working with us, the LA County cohort knew the overwhelming importance of DVROs, but they lacked agreement on the major process barriers and were not aligned on how to work together to remain accountable for improving the process. After working with our team, they were equipped with two major additions. First, they gained a detailed, comprehensive understanding of the survivor’s path to seek a DVRO that centered on compassion and equity. Second, the cohort precisely understood where survivors were facing barriers, ultimately showcasing where the system was failing vulnerable residents in need of immediate support. With specific recommendations from our team, the cohort – with support from the Office of Violence Prevention – is well-positioned to redesign their process. This system reimagination is driven by the hope of its potential to reduce incidents of DV and prevent fatalities.
Interested in learning more about this work? Please contact Christian Anibarro at christiana@intentionalfutures.com.
