Client Spotlight

Building a Safe Place for Learning

When Maria was 16 years old she began to date John, a student from her high school. At first their relationship was loving and caring, but soon John forced Maria to cut ties with her male and then her female friends. The abuse escalated, and John started pushing her, choking her and punching her all over her body on a daily basis. He would regularly convince Maria to skip school so that nobody would see the bruises. Finally, Maria had enough after she had an emotional breakdown and was hospitalized for several weeks.

After hearing Maria's story, Day One's staff attorney worked with her to develop her legal case and a detailed safety plan to protect her.Day One spoke with her school's administration and determined that a court order would be necessary to have John removed from the school. Maria's only other option would be to transfer, because the current official process does not remove the abuser, but rather the victim, from an academic setting.  At the next court date, Day One met with John's attorney and came to an agreement that John would accept a one year Final Order of Protection against him, but would also agree to leave the school that Maria and John both attended.

Day One is proud to have supported Maria, who showed great courage in pursuing an Order of Protection against a fellow student. The creative protective order is a tribute to her resilience and our expert problem-solving staff.