New Internet Resources Available

Privacy and Domestic Violence

A Skadden Fellow at the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC) has started the Domestic Violence and Privacy Project.  His project webpage can be found at http://www.epic.org/privacy/dv/

Included on the site is an amicus brief aimed at protecting telephone records from discovery by a party with a history of harassment. 

Victims Rights Law

The National Center for Victims of Crime recently launched “VictimLaw” a comprehensive, on-line database of state, federal and tribal victims’ rights laws and protections.  Searches can be conducted under specific rights, such as the right to attend, to compensation, to enforcement, to be heard, to be informed, to protection, to restitution and to return of property.  Visit www.victimlaw.info

Domestic Violence Statutory Summary Charts

The ABA Commission on Domestic Violence has posted a series of charts summarizing statutes from all 50 states regarding domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking and dating violence.  The charts include summaries of civil protection orders, statutes permitting fleeing survivors’ access to protective orders, advocate confidentiality laws, and interpreters in court.  Go to www.abanet.org/domviol/statutorysummarycharts.html

Standards of Practice in Protection Order Cases

In August 2007 the ABA adopted Standards of Practice for Lawyers Representing Victims of Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Stalking in Civil protection Order Cases.  These standards, which have been published, raise awareness of the need for high quality legal representation for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking.  The standards are intended to provide a new tool to pro bono and new attorneys as well as experienced attorneys.  The standards are available and can be downloaded from the commission’s web site at http://www.abanet.org/domviol/home.html

Financial Empowerment Resources for Survivors

The Allstate Foundation has established a new web site to provide financial information and resources to support survivors of domestic violence in achieving more financially secure lives.  The site offers a money management curriculum, an education and job training fund that awards grants to survivors for education training and job related expenses, and links to other domestic violence organizations.  The new web site is at

www.EconEmpowerment.org