In cases of abuse, if no-contact orders are not being implemented effectively, alternative forms of protection need to be provided.

The torture stories of Tammy Erickson of Des Moines well-illustrates the point.

Last weekend, while Erickson’s ex-boyfriend was under a no-contact order, he entered her home, locked her in the basement, and forced her to stand on a chair with a noose around her neck. After her face was duct-taped, she was covered with a blanket, choked, and poked with a knife, while her abuser asked her how much it hurt.

As part of a special program, Erickson was given a cellular telephone to reach police quickly when she was in danger. But the phone didn’t help when Erickson needed it last week. Her ex-boyfriend took it away, refusing to return it.

Erickson didn’t report the ordeal to the police until the following night because she didn’t think anything could be done to help her. Constantly terrified of her ex-boyfriend’s return, Erickson said, “No-contact orders mean nothing to him. He comes back and comes back and comes back.”

Americans subjected to domestic abuse should not feel that police help is hopeless. Stricter alternatives to no-contact orders and special programs must be implemented to ensure that people like Tammy Erickson feel better protected from abuse and torture in their own homes.