LA Times is seeking LA County domestic violence/stalking survivors to share restraining order experiences for an investigation into court denials and enforcement failures.
Domestic Violence
Undocumented domestic violence survivors face abuse and deportation fears. Advocates say reporting can protect lives and open legal pathways, despite long visa backlogs and rising immigration anxiety.
Advocates in Sacramento say domestic violence is one of the leading drivers of homelessness for women, particularly Black women, who already face disproportionate barriers in housing and health care. Women leaving abusive partners often have few safe places to go, and the trauma compounds when children are involved.
Sacramento County uses Black “cultural brokers” to help Black families navigate CPS and keep kids out of foster care. The program reunites families but is fighting for long-term funding.
Two journalists were recently joined by a domestic violence survivor and advocate to share tips for reporting on domestic violence in ways that respect a survivor’s wellbeing and safety.
“We know a lot about what to do about domestic violence,” one expert told journalists. “But we’re at a point now where our ability to do something with that information is really diminished.”
Across the Bay Area, advocates are meeting survivors where they are with trauma-informed care, culturally sensitive support and paths to healing that don’t rely on police or punitive systems.
Domestic violence often goes unspoken in Asian communities, where stigma, family dynamics, immigration status and lack of culturally responsive services make it difficult to seek help. But community groups can provide crucial networks of support.
A proposed federal gun laws risk empowering abusers and weakening protections.
Strengthening what’s known as family defense has been shown to reduce the amount of time kids spend in foster care. A reporter shares how she overcame hurdles while reporting out the story in Missouri.