Domestic violence is not just physical, it can also be verbal, emotional, mental, financial, or sexual. Domestic violence includes abuse someone may experience from a caretaker as well as abuse of an older adult, adult child, or grandchild. If you have concerns about being in an abusive situation, or know someone who is, there is support available.
Please find important information and available resources in and around Cambridge for individuals and families who are in need of support due to domestic violence, sexual violence, family violence, and partner abuse.
There are free and confidential resources available to help you think about your options including:
- Safety planning resources for survivors to learn tactics and strategies for them and their families to be safe
- A confidential space in which to talk about your relationship or someone else’s
- A direct connection to domestic/sexual violence programs across Massachusetts
- Referrals to local domestic/sexual violence and other community resources
- Support and resources for anyone who is concerned about a survivor of domestic/sexual violence
- Resources for someone who is being abusive to address their abusive behavior
Information about domestic dating and sexual violence
MA Statewide Option: Safelink
24/7 Hotline: 877-785-2020
24/7 free, multilingual hotline that can provide free and confidential support for survivors of domestic violence.
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Local Domestic Violence Support in Cambridge: Transition House
24/7 Hotline: 617-661-7203
Offers free and confidential support for survivors of domestic violence.
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Local Sexual Violence Support in Cambridge: Boston Area Rape Crisis Center (BARCC)
24/7 Hotline: 800-841-8371
Webchat: Chat Here (9:00 AM - 11:00 PM)
Offers free and confidential crisis support, information, and resources for sexual violence survivors.
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Local Domestic and Sexual Violence Support for LGTBTQIA+ Polyamorous and Kink Survivors: The Network La Red
24/7 Hotline: 800-832-1901 (Toll-Free)
24-hour hotline provides confidential emotional support, information, referrals, safety planning, and crisis intervention for (LGBQTQIA+) folks, as well as folks in SM/kink and polyamorous communities who are being abused or have been abused by a partner.
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Love Is Respect.org
A national resource to disrupt and prevent unhealth relationships and intimate partner violence by empowering young people through inclusive and equitable education, support, and resources.
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The Cambridge Police Department Domestic Violence Unit has produced a helpful brochure (which is also available in print form upon request) focused on understanding when conflict becomes abuse and what support options are available. Download it now.
You can download the brochure in the following languages:
አማርኛ (Amharic) | عربي (Arabic) | বাংলা (Bengali) |简体中文 (Chinese) | Español (Spanish) | Kreyòl Ayisyen (Haitian Creole) | Português (Portuguese)
If your partner or family member is arrested for a domestic violence related offense, there are a few things you may want to know. Once the person who was arrested has been booked and processed at the police station, then they will be transported by a police officer to court to appear before a judge to be formally charged with the crime(s) committed. If the court is closed and they are 18 years or older, they will be held in custody for a minimum of 6 hours in compliance with Massachusetts domestic violence guidelines. A bail magistrate will decide if they are eligible for bail release or if they will be held in police custody until the next business day and taken to court directly.
There are several factors taken into consideration when the bail magistrate decides if someone is eligible for bail (i.e. history of not showing up to court, if there is a restraining order in effect, if the survivor is seeking an emergency restraining order, and other factors.) Once the person who is arrested appears in the District/Juvenile Court they will be arraigned by a judge. This is called an arraignment hearing. At the arraignment hearing the judge will decide if they will be released or held in custody. The judge may also decide to order certain conditions to abide by such as not to abuse the person they harmed to stay away from that person and have no contact with that person, GPS monitoring bracelet, drug/alcohol testing, etc.
If you were the person harmed, you can expect to be contacted by the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office (MDAO) before and after the arraignment with updates regarding the arraignment. You will be offered the option to seek a protection order at this time if you do not already have one.
To check on the custody status of a person who has been arrested in Cambridge you may call the Cambridge Police Department Shift Commander at 617-349-3393.
If the crime occurred in Cambridge and the arrested person is over 18, they appear in the Cambridge District Court for their arraignment.
If the crime occurred in Cambridge and the arrested person is under 18, they appear in the Cambridge Juvenile Court for their arraignment.
To obtain information about an arraignment hearing you may contact the Massachusetts District Attorney's Office Victim Witness Bureau: 781-897-8300 or the Cambridge Police Department Victim Advocate: 617-349-3371.
Learn more about the criminal court process.
If you are the victim in an open court prosecution case in Cambridge District Court or the Middlesex Superior Court and you would like to know the status of your case, you can contact the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office Victim Witness Bureau at 781-897-8300.
If you would like to know the status of an open domestic violence or sexual assault police investigation, please call the detective assigned to your case or call the Cambridge Police Victim Assistance Program at 617-349-3371.
To schedule a police-escorted property pickup, please contact the Domestic Violence Unit Supervisor by phone or email. An agreed upon time will be arranged between the involved parties. Approximately 20 minutes will be provided at no cost. If additional time is needed you may be required to hire a minimum 4 hour police detail.
Phone: 617-349-9764
Email: dvsaunit@cambridgepolice.org
PLEASE BE AWARE IF THERE IS AN ACTIVE PROTECTION ORDER IN EFFECT IT COULD BE CONSIDERED A CRIME TO RETRIEVE PERSONAL PROPERTY WITHOUT A POLICE ESCORT AT A TIME AGREED TO BY THE PLAINTIFF.