It’s In The House…
A NJ Nonprofit 501(c)3 organization providing support for all victims of domestic violence through education, advocacy & a commitment to prevent abuse. Offering one on one classes, mentoring, crisis intervention, safety planning, therapy & shelter referrals, assistance with restraining orders & trials, & assistance with tangible & intangible goods. All for the betterment of the world and the community.
Ms. Dukes is a domestic violence survivor.
In her pursuit to end domestic violence, the justice system was not on her side. It is extremely hard for women to obtain a final restraining order against their abuser and even then, are we still protected?
Ms. Dukes was arrested 3 times due to false accusations from her abuser. He did this in retaliation to her leaving him and attempting to get a restraining order. Her abuser started going to multiple municipalities and making false reports against her. The legal term for this type of harassment is harassment by litigation. In the state of New Jersey, the police must take every report of domestic violence regardless of who it comes from. Ms. Dukes went to over 50 court proceedings in a 6 month time span, fighting false charges that her abuser filed against her. “I was terrified. This thing gripped me so tight that I went to sleep with anxiety and woke up to the same anxiety.”
Ms. Dukes’s abuser would pass by her home to scare her out of fighting for a restraining order and it got to the point where she could not call the police because due to all the numerous complaints, the police did not know who was telling the truth. Someone would knock on her home door and ring the doorbell and when she should go to the door and look out the peep hole, no one was there. Anywhere she would go, she was followed. She paid over $20,000.00 in legal fees and these “top” attorneys could not even help her successfully obtain a final restraining order. "It was hell here on earth."
Once all hope was lost, Ms. Dukes sought the Lord and he answered her and delivered her from all her fears. Fear is a spirit and it did not come from God, so she rebuked her fears in the name of Jesus and fought like she had never fought before.
Ms. Dukes turned off her cell phone and all of her electronic devices for 2 weeks. She stayed in her word and she studied all of the domestic violence laws. She represented herself in a long 2 day trial, and by the grace of God not only did the judge court order a final restraining order, the judge gave her sole custody of her son who was also abused by her abuser, so her abuser would never be able to abuse him again and the judge ordered her abuser to pay her back all of the legal fees that she had acquired from his false complaints. All of the false charges against her were dropped as well.
Ms. Dukes’s abuser then appealed the final restraining order with the New Jersey Appellate Division. Representing herself in this trial as well, Ms. Dukes won.
In regard to Ms. Dukes’s Domestic Violence case, Judge Lisa Firko quoted, “I also have to reiterate for the record that this was one of the most violent, volatile and caustic domestic violence proceedings I have done in ten years as a Judge.”
To invite Hope Dukes, email: info@myhopeenterprises.com