Victim's Rights
Per Tennessee law, IF YOU ARE THE VICTIM OF DOMESTIC ABUSE, you have the following rights:
1. You may file a criminal complaint with the district attorney general (D.A.).
2. You may request a protection order.
A protection order may include the following:
(A) An order preventing the abuser from committing further domestic abuse against you;
(B) An order requiring the abuser to leave your household;
(C) An order preventing the abuser from harassing you or contacting you for any reason;
(D) An order giving you or the other parent custody of or visitation with your minor child or children;
(E) An order requiring the abuser to pay money to support you and the minor children if the abuser has a legal obligation to do so;
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(F) An order preventing the abuser from stalking you.
3. Courts may issue an ex parte order of protection pursuant to T.C.A. § 36-3-605 upon a sworn petition filed by a law enforcement officer responding to an incident of domestic abuse who asserts in the petition reasonable grounds to believe that a person is in immediate and present danger of abuse and that person has consented to the filing in writing. The law enforcement officer may seek the ex parte order on behalf of the person regardless of the time of day and whether or not an arrest has been made.
Law enforcement agencies shall provide notice of the following information to any victim of crime:
(1) The victim's rights under the Tennessee Constitution, Article I, § 35, to be free from intimidation, harassment and abuse throughout the criminal justice system;
(2) The availability, if any, of crisis intervention services and emergency and medical services;
(3) The name of the law enforcement agency and telephone number;
(4) In cases of domestic violence, the procedures and resources available for protection of the victim;
(5) The names and telephone numbers of public and private victim assistance programs, including the state criminal injuries compensation program and programs that provide counseling, treatment and other support services;
(6) The procedural steps involved in a criminal prosecution.
