Monthly Archives: July 2020

How Domestic Abuse Can Escalate During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Posted on July 28, 2020 by admin_aimee

Around the globe, governments have imposed new regulations as a means of protection against the coronavirus. Though necessary to slow the spread, actions such as sheltering in-place, social distancing, restricted travel, and closures of key community foundations can dramatically increase the risk for family violence. In fact many countries are already indicating a marked increase in reported cases of domestic violence.

It is important to remember that domestic violence was a global pandemic long before the COVID-19 outbreak. According to data collected by the United Nations, 243 million women and girls between the ages of 15 and 49 worldwide were subjected to sexual or physical violence by an intimate partner in the last 12 months. In other words, one in three women has experienced physical or sexual violence at some point in her life. It is no wonder cases have increased during the lockdown, with so many people being trapped at home with their abuser.

Tips for Staying Safe

During a lockdown, it is not uncommon for victims of domestic violence to face even more fear and anxiety than normal—especially if you are balancing trying to stay safe emotionally and physically from a highly contagious disease. While everyone’s situation is different, here are a few suggestions for dealing with abusive situations.

Stay in Touch with People

If possible, lean on your support network and keep a line of communication open with family and friends. Use social media, text messaging, and phone calls to seek out encouragement or help as you need it.

Create a Safety Plan

Keep track of ideas on how to stay safe while in an abusive relationship, including steps to take when leaving and how to stay safe afterward. The National Domestic Violence Hotline offers a guide on safety planning, but you may need to get creative with planning during this pandemic.

Know Your Options

Before COVID, victims had the option to go to shelters or to stay with family or friends. Unfortunately, options are now limited, with shelters full or closed, and families maintaining distance.

Keep Everything Organized

Be sure you have all your important documents together and find the address to your nearest police station.

Reach Out for Help
If you or a loved one are a victim of domestic violence, contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 for confidential assistance from trained advocates. You can also contact She Spies Private Eye, a private investigator who handles domestic investigations. We can guide you with expertise and knowledge to handle your difficult situation in the best way possible.

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COVID-19 and Custody Agreements: What You Need to Know this Summer

Posted on July 23, 2020 by admin_aimee

As the coronavirus pandemic continues to evolve, parents who share custody of their children are facing new challenges this summer. Stay-at-home orders, social distancing, working from home, and travel restrictions are the new standard, and those who are coparenting in different households can use some extra guidance on how to be successful.

Here is what you need to know.

Experts Agree—Follow the Orders Unless You Make a New Agreement
You can continue using your regular shared custody schedule or agree on a new plan that feels right for you, your co-parent, and your children—as safely as possible—unless a judge changes your order.

If you’re not in agreement or the courts rule in favor of one parent, the consequences can be heartbreaking. An example of what we have seen is a parent took their child, during their visitation to another state that was on lock down due to the COVID virus. She Spies Private Eye, was there to document the evidence and show the parent was using poor judgment and not thinking about the well being of the child.

Please know, in these unprecedent times, it is very common to be anxious about co-parenting. Therefore, She Spies Private Eye, is here to assist parents through these stressful times

Here are four ways to get in sync and keep everyone’s wellness in mind.

1. Come to an Agreement About How to Monitor Health
Discuss how you will monitor every resident’s health in both households. Perhaps you take your child’s temperature every time they move between homes. Also be sure to disclose any symptoms that could be related to the virus. If you know you’ve been exposed to someone who is sick or showing symptoms, tell your ex immediately.

2. Be Transparent
Set boundaries about what your children can and cannot do when you are away from your child. After all, frequenting supermarkets, pharmacies, or friends’ homes elevate the risk of exposure.

3. Discuss Temporary Schedule Changes
Whether it’s moving to a “week-on, week-off’ arrangement to minimize child exchanges, or temporarily designating a “weekday parent’ and a “weekend parent,” you’ll want to periodically review any temporary agreements.

4. Be Smart About Drop-offs
Ideally, social distancing should be maintained during drop-offs. To do so, get creative. Consider establishing one parent as the main source of transportation temporarily or meeting at a parking lot to exchange the kids. Whatever you decide, make it more welcoming and less jarring for the children.

She Spies Private Eye Investigations

Do you believe your ex is violating your established custody orders or temporary agreements during the pandemic? Or perhaps you think that sending your child to your ex’s home poses a risk to your child’s health? Child custody is often a complicated affair, and even more so during the current circumstances.

If you need help with custody issues, you can seek out a private investigator at She Spies Private Eye to investigate the situation and protect the child’s welfare with expertise and compassion.

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