My daughter was summoned to court at Pike County Courthouse on June 25, 2025. My grandson father is using the courts to manipulate again and further extend his harassment and abuse through the courts who requires less and less than the minimum for why he has summoned my daughter. Judge were in agreement with my grandson’s father about he would be receiving unsupervised visits in the near future and my daughter would have to accept this new updated order regardless of safety for her son. He has no permanent residence, couldn’t present valid proof of reliable transportation, no receipts of utilities bills after stating he has a safe place for the child to stay. He once again lied in court under oath without remorse or repercussions. My daughter had to prove why he is and will continue to be a threat and danger to their well-being. Without supervised visits, and enforcing any order to protect my daughter and grandson, this could turn violent very quickly now that he plans to take my grandson to visit/stay in a recent relationship that has been on and off since their involvement! But the judge only looked for reasons to push my daughter toward unsupervised visits and leave my daughter and grandson more vulnerable to an abuser who in my opinion, after this most recent court date have shown symptoms of narcissistic behavior and ASPD. Family members have stated he’s suffered with schizophrenia, bipolar, manic depression and PTSD. And he literally stated in court PTSD has been caused by my daughter who he tried to choke out, punched, assaulted before and during pregnancy, refused to allow her to call her family to get away from him with her son who was two months old. He slung the child onto the porch and left. Now he states she has been the reason he hasn’t had opportunities to visit with child when he had supervised visits for seven years and never attended but one of his school events and activities and church services. He attended three church services. Never used the visitation granted in previous orders at DHR on two days a week. He continues to be aggressive and suffered with a mental breakdown on the phone crying to my daughter after asking was anyone nearby. How could the courts take him seriously? Judge was very condescending to my daughter on June 25. Had it not been for support from our faith and family members, we couldn’t have endured the gaslighting, aggressive rhetoric and behavior over these last seven years and the courts leaning more and more in his favor to not protect the child or the mother.
Alabama has a responsibility to protect its citizens, especially those who are vulnerable to domestic abuse and violence. Lifting protection orders against known abusers endangers the lives of the victims and undermines the justice system's role in safeguarding the well-being of those it serves. In Alabama, the rate of domestic violence incidents is alarming, and removing legal protections only exacerbates this grave issue.
Protection orders serve as a critical lifeline for victims, offering a legal buffer that prevents abusers from contacting or coming near them. They provide a sense of security and allow victims the space to heal and rebuild their lives. Alarmingly, an increasing trend of lifting these orders poses significant threats to the physical and emotional safety of victims. This pattern not only discourages victims from coming forward but also emboldens abusers, creating a cycle of violence that is difficult to break.
The consequences of lifting protection orders are dire. According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, approximately one in four women and one in nine men experience severe intimate partner physical violence. Revoking these orders exposes victims to further harm, potential fatality, and prolonged psychological trauma. Moreover, it sends a dangerous message that the safety and dignity of victims are secondary to procedural technicalities or perpetrators’ demands.
To solve this, Alabama's judicial system must prioritize the lives and safety of abuse survivors over all else. A rigorous review process for lifting protection orders should be implemented, ensuring that no order is rescinded without a comprehensive evaluation of the circumstances and potential risks involved. Additionally, training and resources for judges and law enforcement should be enhanced to better understand the complexities of domestic violence.
Join us in urging Alabama’s lawmakers and judicial officials to stand firm against lifting protection orders. Ensuring their steadfastness in maintaining these orders is imperative in safeguarding victims and reducing the incidence of domestic violence across the state.
Sign this petition to demand justice and protection for victims of abuse in Alabama. Together, we can create a safer environment and prevent further violence.