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If you have been the victim of domestic abuse it is crucial that a police report is filed. Even if you have gotten through a particular incident without calling 911 your life is still in danger. If any length of time has passed and you have no obvious physical wounds it is paramount that you bring someone else with you to do this. Preferably a man. Unless you have studied the web site of the particular police department in your area you do not know how trauma informed they are or even if they have a history of bias and discrimination in who they allow - yes I mean exactly that - allow to file a report. Filing a report is an extremely stressful and scary action to take in and of itself. You must have someone accompany you to prevent your reporting of abuse from turning into an interrogation of you. If you have a witness to the reporting this will prevent any subtle (or not so subtle) harassment you could receive for your efforts to protect yourself. The police are required to perform their duties in a nondiscriminatory, nonjudgmental manner. Bringing someone else with you will increase the odds that you will be treated with respect and that the report will get written up as a complaint and not as the summation of a cross examination.
