My husband is in prison for 5 years for domestic violence against me and agg. robbery, even though he stole nothing it is because he forced entry... I never testified but I still cant visit him b/c I am the "victim of his crime". Is there any way whatsoever around this??? We have four children together and we will still be together when he comes home. I heard of something where we have sessions together kinda like counceling. Any info or advice will mean the world to me!! He is in RCI.:(
Melissa

I do not venture to far away from the DV forums but maybe if you post in the Ohio forums you can find some anwers to your questions. Good luck to you on wanting to wait it out or turning things around.;) sokie

I will give you the best info I can, with the caveat that I don't much like hearing victims of domestic violence begging to go back into contact with their abusers.

The best thing you can do is educate yourself. A whole lot. Solo therapist, for you alone, one for the kids. Find out exactly how you and they are doing as regards the effects of his behavior. Get it calculated and written down. Take a few months to do this.

Find out what courses he's required to do while he's in. Send him literature, and letters about your feelings (not the ones about how much you miss him and love him and all of that, but about how his behavior has made you feel). Look very thoroughly at his character. At all of the problems that have brought him to believe that somehow this was acceptable behavior. Look at your history - look at controlling behavior, job performance, his attitudes toward others.

When you fully understand, and look with clear eyes rather than eyes filed with love and loss, then go back to the originating judge and explain what you've learned and why he will or won't ever be doing that again.

Or you may have to go to the warden, if that's where the order came from, and make it clear that you've understood the origins of his behavior and that you and he are willing to work on it, etc.