What is family violence?
The Georgia Code 19-13-1 defines family violence as certain kinds of crimes between people who have certain relationships to each other. Such crimes include battery, assault, stalking, criminal damage to property, unlawful restraint, criminal trespass and any felony. The people must be connected to each other as past or present spouses, parents of the same child, parents and children, stepparents and stepchildren or other persons living or formerly living in the same household.
What is stalking?
Stalking is the obsessive following, observing, or contacting of another person, or the obsessive attempt to engage in any of these activities. This includes following the person to certain places to see where they live or what the person does on a daily basis. It also includes seeking and obtaining one's personal information in order to contact him or her; i.e. looking for his or her details on computers, electoral rolls, personal files and other material containing the person's private information without his or her consent.
In the state of Georgia, stalking can be grounds for obtaining a TPO regardless if you are related to the abuser or not.
What is domestic standby?
If you need to return to your house to get your things, or you don't want to let the batterer back into your home to pick up his or her things, you can request a domestic stand-by. A domestic stand-by is a police officer who is present to make sure everyone is safe. The police will only allow a limited time for the person to gather personal items and will not involve themselves in any disputes over property ownership. You can call for a City of Clarkston Police Officer for a domestic stand-by at 404-292-9465.