Domestic Violence in New Jersey

17 verified resources.

About Domestic Violence for Fathers

Domestic violence resources for men have grown significantly over the past decade. The National Domestic Violence Hotline (1-800-799-SAFE) accepts calls from any gender, and the Stop Abusive and Violent Environments (SAVE) helpline and ManKind Initiative are dedicated to male victims. Every state has a coalition against domestic violence, and most cities have shelters — though male-specific shelter capacity remains limited. Men can obtain protective orders in family court, request supervised visitation, and work with victim advocates attached to local prosecutor offices. For fathers falsely accused of domestic violence during custody disputes, a criminal defense attorney or family law attorney with DV experience is critical. This directory includes national hotlines, state coalitions, men's shelters where available, and protective order resources.

Domestic Violence in New Jersey

New Jersey Superior Court Family Part handles family law in each of its 15 vicinages. The Office of Child Support Services operates under DHS. Newark, Jersey City, Paterson, Elizabeth, and Trenton are the largest cities. Legal Services of New Jersey coordinates six regional LSC-funded programs covering all 21 counties.

17 Resources

1. NJ Coalition to End Domestic Violence (NJCEDV) — Free

Statewide coalition of over 30 DV service programs operating the NJ Statewide Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-572-SAFE (7233) providing 24/7 confidential crisis support. Office located at One Riverfront Plaza in Newark. Call 609-584-8107 during business hours Monday through Friday 9am to 5pm. The hotline connects callers to local shelters, legal advocacy, counseling, and safety planning services. NJCEDV also advocates for policy reforms to strengthen protections for DV survivors across New Jersey.

609-584-8107 · 1 Riverfront Plaza, Suite 1100, Newark, NJ 07102 · Office Mon-Fri 9am-5pm; Hotline 24/7 · Visit Website

2. National Domestic Violence Hotline — Free

Free, confidential 24/7 hotline available in 200+ languages for anyone affected by domestic violence including survivors, family members, and concerned friends. Call 1-800-799-7233, text START to 88788, or chat at thehotline.org. Trained advocates provide crisis intervention, safety planning, shelter referrals, and emotional support. No cost, no caller ID required. Serves all NJ residents. Advisors can help callers understand their options and connect with local NJ domestic violence programs and legal resources.

1-800-799-7233 · National (serves all NJ residents) · 24/7 · Visit Website

3. Younity (formerly Womanspace) - Mercer County — Free

Nearly 50 years serving Mercer County domestic violence survivors with 24/7 crisis intervention, emergency shelter, individual counseling, legal advocacy, and children's services. Located in Lawrenceville. Call the crisis line at 609-394-9000 any time. Office hours Monday through Friday 9am to 5pm. Provides court accompaniment, safety planning, and transitional housing support. All services are free and confidential. Bilingual services available. Serves survivors of all gender identities and backgrounds.

609-394-9000 · 1530 Brunswick Ave, Lawrenceville, NJ 08648 · Office Mon-Fri 9am-5pm; crisis line 24/7 · Visit Website

4. JBWS - Morris Family Justice Center — Free

Morris County's lead domestic violence agency providing counseling, legal assistance, emergency shelter, and children's services all under one roof at the Family Justice Center in Morristown. Call 973-267-7520 during business hours; 24/7 helpline at 1-877-782-2873. All services are free and confidential. The co-located model allows survivors to access police, prosecutors, legal advocates, and counselors in one safe location. Services include safety planning, court accompaniment, and transitional housing referrals.

973-267-7520 · 10 Court St, 4th Floor, Morristown, NJ 07960 · Mon-Fri 8:30am-4:30pm; Helpline 24/7: 1-877-782-2873 · Visit Website

5. Women Aware - Middlesex County — Free

State-designated lead DV agency for Middlesex County offering a 24-hour multilingual hotline, emergency shelter, legal advocacy, and children's trauma therapy. Located in New Brunswick. Call 732-249-4900 for the office or 732-249-4504 for the 24-hour crisis hotline. All services are free and confidential. Provides court accompaniment, safety planning, economic empowerment programs, and transitional housing assistance. Multilingual services ensure all Middlesex County survivors can access help regardless of language.

732-249-4900 · 250 Livingston Ave, New Brunswick, NJ 08901 · Office Mon-Fri 9am-5pm; Hotline 24/7: 732-249-4504 · Visit Website

6. Center for Family Services - SERV (Camden) — Free

Services Empowering Rights of Victims provides case management, counseling, safe housing placement, and court accompaniments for DV survivors across Camden, Cumberland, and Gloucester counties. Located in Camden at 584 Benson St. Call 856-964-1990 during business hours; 24/7 hotline at 1-866-295-7378. Free and confidential services include safety planning, legal advocacy, restraining order assistance, and referrals to transitional housing. All survivors regardless of gender or immigration status are served.

856-964-1990 · 584 Benson St, Camden, NJ 08103 · Office Mon-Fri 9am-5pm; Hotline 24/7: 1-866-295-7378 · Visit Website

7. Passaic County Domestic Violence Center — Free

Serves Passaic County domestic violence survivors with a 24-hour crisis hotline, temporary emergency shelter, individual counseling, legal advocacy, and case management in Paterson. Located at 1027 Madison Ave. Call 973-881-1450 any time for crisis support. Office hours Monday through Friday 9am to 5pm. Services are free and confidential. Provides safety planning, court accompaniment, and referrals to transitional housing and community resources. Multilingual staff available to assist Passaic County's diverse communities.

973-881-1450 · 1027 Madison Ave, Paterson, NJ 07501 · Office Mon-Fri 9am-5pm; Hotline 24/7 · Visit Website

8. Legal Services of NJ - DV Representation Project — Free

Statewide free legal aid with a dedicated Domestic Violence Representation Project providing direct legal help with restraining orders, custody, divorce, and related family law matters. Call the LSNJ hotline at 1-888-576-5529 Monday through Friday 8am to 5:30pm. Income eligibility required. Attorneys and law graduates provide representation in court proceedings and legal advice for survivors navigating the family court system. Services provided across all 21 NJ counties through regional offices.

1-888-576-5529 · P.O. Box 1357, Edison, NJ 08818 · Mon-Fri 8am-5:30pm · Visit Website

9. NJ Statewide Domestic Violence Hotline — Free

24/7 confidential hotline providing crisis intervention, safety planning, emergency shelter referrals, and emotional support for domestic violence survivors across all of New Jersey. Call 1-800-572-7233 any time. Operated by the NJ Coalition to End Domestic Violence. Trained advocates can connect callers to the nearest local DV program in their county for immediate assistance. No cost, completely confidential. Text and online chat options also available for situations where calling is not safe.

1-800-572-7233 · Statewide phone service · 24/7 · Visit Website

10. Safe+Sound Somerset (Somerville) — Free

Somerset County's domestic violence agency providing 24-hour crisis hotline, emergency shelter, individual counseling, legal advocacy, and children's services. Call the helpline at 1-866-685-1122 any time. Mailing address at P.O. Box 805 in Somerville; office hours Monday through Friday 9am to 5pm. All services are free and confidential. Provides safety planning, restraining order assistance, and court accompaniment. Transitional housing support and community resource referrals also available for Somerset County survivors.

1-866-685-1122 · P.O. Box 805, Somerville, NJ 08876 · Office Mon-Fri 9am-5pm; Hotline 24/7

11. 180 Turning Lives Around (Monmouth County) — Free

Monmouth County domestic violence agency providing 24-hour crisis hotline, emergency shelter, court advocacy, individual counseling, and transitional housing for survivors. Located in Hazlet at 1 Bethany Rd. Call 732-264-4360 for the crisis line any time. Office hours Monday through Friday 8:30am to 4:30pm. Free and confidential services include safety planning, legal advocacy, restraining order assistance, and children's programs. Serves all Monmouth County residents regardless of gender or immigration status.

732-264-4360 · 1 Bethany Rd, Building 3, Suite 42, Hazlet, NJ 07730 · Office Mon-Fri 8:30am-4:30pm; Hotline 24/7

12. Providence House (Ocean County) — Free

Ocean County's domestic violence agency providing emergency shelter, 24-hour crisis hotline, individual counseling, legal advocacy, and children's programs. Located in Whiting at 1 Manchester Blvd. Call 800-246-8910 for the 24-hour hotline; office at 732-244-8259 during business hours Monday through Friday 9am to 5pm. All services are free and confidential. Provides safety planning, court accompaniment, and transitional housing referrals. Serves all Ocean County DV survivors of any background.

732-244-8259 · 1 Manchester Blvd, Whiting, NJ 08759 · Office Mon-Fri 9am-5pm; Hotline 24/7: 800-246-8910 · Visit Website

13. Hudson County Prosecutor - DV Unit — Free

Hudson County Prosecutor's Office Domestic Violence Unit investigates and prosecutes domestic violence cases throughout Hudson County. Located at 595 Newark Ave in Jersey City. Call 201-795-6400 Monday through Friday 8:30am to 4:30pm; emergencies handled 24/7 through local police. Victims can report DV crimes and request prosecutorial support. The unit coordinates with victim advocates to provide court preparation and support services. Contact law enforcement first in an active emergency before calling the prosecutor's office.

201-795-6400 · 595 Newark Ave, Jersey City, NJ 07306 · Mon-Fri 8:30am-4:30pm; emergencies 24/7 through police

14. The Salvation Army - NJ DV Services — Free

The Salvation Army provides emergency shelter, individual counseling, and wraparound support services for domestic violence survivors across multiple New Jersey locations. Call 1-800-799-7233 for the national DV hotline any time; reach NJ-specific services at easternusa.salvationarmy.org. Free services include crisis housing, case management, clothing and food assistance, and safety planning. Open to survivors of all backgrounds regardless of religion. Call to find the nearest NJ location providing DV services in your area.

1-800-799-7233 · Multiple NJ locations · 24/7 crisis services · Visit Website

15. Essex County Prosecutor - DV Unit — Free

Essex County Prosecutor's Office Domestic Violence Unit handles investigation, prosecution, and victim advocacy for DV cases in Newark and throughout Essex County. Located at 50 West Market St in Newark. Call 973-621-4700 Monday through Friday 8:30am to 4:30pm; emergency situations handled 24/7 through law enforcement. Victim advocates assist with court preparation and safety planning. Report ongoing domestic violence to local police first; then contact the prosecutor's office for prosecutorial assistance and victim support resources.

973-621-4700 · 50 West Market St, Newark, NJ 07102 · Mon-Fri 8:30am-4:30pm; emergencies 24/7 through police · Visit Website

16. Manavi (New Brunswick) — Free

Culturally specific services for South Asian domestic violence survivors in New Jersey including individual counseling, legal advocacy, economic empowerment, and housing assistance. Located in New Brunswick with P.O. Box 3103. Call 732-435-1414 Monday through Friday 10am to 5pm; 24/7 crisis referrals available. Email info@manavi.org for intake. Provides services in South Asian languages. Understands the specific cultural, immigration, and family pressures faced by South Asian survivors in navigating DV situations.

732-435-1414 · P.O. Box 3103, New Brunswick, NJ 08903 · Mon-Fri 10am-5pm; crisis line 24/7 · Visit Website

17. Korean American Domestic Violence Helpline — Free

Culturally and linguistically specific domestic violence services for Korean Americans in New Jersey including crisis intervention, counseling in Korean, and shelter referrals. Call 1-844-303-7233 Monday through Friday 9am to 5pm with 24/7 crisis referrals available. Serves the NJ Korean American community with deep cultural competency and Korean-language capability. Advocates understand immigration concerns and family-specific dynamics affecting Korean DV survivors. Confidential and free services statewide.

1-844-303-7233 · Serves NJ Korean American community · Mon-Fri 9am-5pm; crisis referrals 24/7

Domestic Violence — Common Questions

Can men be victims of domestic violence?
Yes — roughly 1 in 9 men experience severe physical violence by an intimate partner. The National Domestic Violence Hotline (1-800-799-SAFE) and ManKind Initiative serve male victims. Stigma is a major barrier, but the legal protections (protective orders, DV charges) are available to men in every state.
What if I'm falsely accused?
Take it seriously even if untrue. Consult a criminal or family law attorney immediately; don't speak to police or the accuser without counsel. Document your whereabouts, witnesses, communications. Most protective orders can be challenged at a full evidentiary hearing within 10–21 days of initial issuance.
How do I get a protective order?
File a petition at your county's family court or civil court — no attorney required. Temporary ex parte orders can issue same-day; a full hearing typically follows within two to three weeks. Court self-help centers and DV advocates help fill out forms at no cost.
Are there shelters for men?
Male-specific DV shelter capacity is limited but exists in some cities (through organizations like Valor, ManKind, and certain state coalitions). Most DV agencies will arrange hotel placement or referral to emergency shelter for male victims when shelter-specific housing isn't available.