Domestic Violence

Domestic Violence is physical, sexual, verbal, emotional, or financial abuse between present or former intimate partners. It can involve threats, pushing, punching, slapping, choking, sexual assault, shouting, name-calling, harming or threatening to harm children or pets, and other violent or intimidating behaviors. Rarely a one-time occurrence, domestic violence usually escalates in frequency and severity over time.

Abusers batter to control and dominate their partners. No language or other act is provocation or justification for violent behavior. It is a crime for anyone to assault or threaten you. Even if that person is a spouse, ex-spouse, boyfriend, girlfriend, household or family member, someone you are dating or someone you had once dated. If this is happening to you, there are laws out there that can help. Knowing your legal rights and other options is the first step toward ending the abuse.