Leaving my beloved CA to get away from abusive ex, how will AZ compare?

Restraining order has proven to be nothing but a piece of paper. Cops won't enforce it and I'm tired of wasting money on attorney's fees only to have the judge give him a slap on the wrist. I'm in fear for my life. I love CA and I am going to miss the heck out of living here. I want to find a place that has what I love best about CA- warm weather (at least in the summers) and swimming in the lakes and rivers. I'll miss the ocean, but I guess I can live without it. I was thinking about Florida, but it's so far away from my family. At least in Arizona I'll be able to visit them once in a while. Hawaii would be lovely, but I can't afford it.

How does Arizona compare to CA? Which area is safe to raise a family? How is life for nurses (I'm an RN?)