SHELTER FOR
FAMILY SAFETY

Are you in an abusive relationship? 

Does your partner ever...

• Make you account for your time?
• Easily get angry or have frequent mood swings?
• Pressure you for sex or become angry if you don't comply with sexual requests?
• Isolate you from family or friends?
• Overly criticize you or your personal traits?
• Strike or threaten to strike you with his or her hands, feet, or object?
• Been violent toward children?
• Caused an injury to you that required medical attention?
• Destroyed your property or threatened to kill your pet?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, you may be in an abusive relationship. Call our crisis hotline at 605.338.4880 or come to Children’s Home Shelter for Family Safety for help.

How can you file a Protection Order?

If you have experienced domestic violence, we highly encourage you to consider obtaining a Protection Order. 

A Protection Order is a document issued by a court and signed by a judge to help protect you from harassment or abuse. In an Order of Protection, a judge can set limits on your partner's behavior. Among other things, a judge may order the person(s) abusing you to:

• Stop abusing you and your children 
• Leave and stay away from your home, your workplace and your family
• Direct them to have no contact with you—including no phone calls, letters, emails or messages through other people
• Order them to stay away from the children, their babysitter, day care or school

Although a Protection Order is not a guarantee that abusive behavior will stop, protection orders have been proven to be relatively effective in domestic violence situations. There is no fee to get a Protection Order and they can be granted for up to 5 years.

Your options for filing a protection order include:

1. Come to Shelter for Family Safety. We have the paperwork and can help you fill it out properly.
2. Pick up the paperwork at your local Clerk of Courts office. You will turn the paperwork back into this same office once completed.
3. Use one of South Dakota’s protection order forms:
   1.  Domestic Protection Orders
   2.  Stalking Protection Orders

For each type of protection order, you must complete the following:

• Petitioner Information Form (UJS-090B)
• Respondent Information Form (UJS-090C)
• Petition Form (UJS-091A)

We know these forms can be very confusing and overwhelming. If you would like assistance in completing these forms, come to Children’s Home Shelter for Family Safety or call us at 605.338.4880 for help.

If you’re in a situation where leaving may not be possible or you’re not ready to leave, thinking about safety for yourself and others in your home is essential. Creating a safety plan can help you manage risks and prepare for emergencies. Each safety plan should include safe places you could go if you decide to leave, and trusted people who can support you when you’re ready.

Download a sample safety plan to get started.

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