Safety Planning
As an inmate's release date approaches, it may be necessary to determine safety plans and resources available for your protection. Contact your regional victim advocate for assistance and support in safety planning.
Safety planning is thinking and acting in a way that can increase your safety and the safety of your loved ones. You can do safety planning whether you stay in a relationship or if you are able to leave an abusive relationship.
In this section, learn more about:
Printable information about safety planning:
Protective Orders
A protective order is a legal order issued by a magistrate or a judge to protect the health and safety of an abused person and his/her family or household members.
Protective orders can provide you with legal protection, but they cannot necessarily protect you from violence. To help protect yourself from an act of violence, contact your regional victim advocate to help you figure out what you need to stay safe and to develop a plan.
Confidentiality
The Virginia Attorney General's Office Address Confidentiality Program (ACP) is a confidential mail-forwarding service for domestic violence and/or stalking victims who have recently relocated to a location unknown to their abuser or stalker.
Learn more about and register for the ACP on the Virginia Attorney General’s website.
"No Contact" Directives
“No contact” means the inmate, probationer, or parolee cannot directly or indirectly contact you, as ordered by the court or other authorized body. Contact your regional victim advocate if you have any questions or want more information on how to obtain a “no contact” directive.
From the Court
During sentencing, a court can add a "no contact" condition. The court would determine if the action would be a basis for revocation of supervision or impact on suspended conviction time.
From the Virginia Parole Board
If the Virginia Parole Board (VPB) grants parole to an inmate, they can place a "no contact" condition, enforced by the probation and parole officer. The VPB would then have the authority to respond to any violation of this condition, which can result in revocation of parole.
From the Virginia Department of Corrections
All probationers and parolees on supervision in the community can also have a “no contact” condition that says they must not have direct or indirect contact with victim(s) of their current or previous offense(s) without prior documented approval of the officer. This condition is not a court order preventing contact; it is a directive issued by the VADOC, which can be the basis for revocation of supervision if violated.