What is Domestic Violence?

25 Oct What is Domestic Violence?

Domestic violence, according the the recent announcement by the U.S. Surgeon General, is the number one health concern in the U.S. today. It’s important to understand what domestic violence is.

Knowing what domestic violence entails not only helps you to avoid a charge yourself, but also helps you know how to help others avoid it and maybe even recognize it if it happens to you.

Domestic violence is not a charge, it’s a classification that attaches to crimes, like assault, criminal mischief, unlawful detention and disorderly conduct.

Domestic violence involves a cohabitant, which also means anyone in blood family, cohabitation, or anyone you’ve ever been married to.

There are many types of domestic violence but they all include a pattern abusive behavior in any relationship that is used by one partner to gain or maintain control over another intimate partner, according to the Office on Violence Against Women. However, not only women can be the victim of domestic violence.

Most people are aware of physical abuse. Physical abuse includes anything like pinching, biting, pushing, slapping, hitting and so forth.

Also, there are types of stalking that can be domestic violence. For instance, showing up at someone’s house or place of work repeatedly can be a form of domestic violence. Collecting information or continuing to email or send messages and gifts to someone repeatedly can also be a form of domestic violence.

Domestic violence used to be a term used exclusively when a woman was abused by a spouse but that definition has been abandoned since then and replaced with a more modern one.

Anyone can be a victim of domestic abuse regardless of gender, race or religious background, age or education level. This can be a spouse, child, family member or intimate partner.

To summarize, anyone can be a victim of domestic violence, even children who are present or witness an act of domestic violence. There are numerous crimes that can involve domestic violence.

Domestic violence charges can have a major impact on a person’s career or employment. Domestic violence convictions have many unforeseen consequences. These include a criminal record, fines, protective orders, anger management classes. These charges can also affect one’s ability to own and/or purchase firearm.

At Allan & Easton, one of our areas of specialty is domestic violence defense. Please contact us with further questions or concerns so we can help you feel safe again.