Hotlines | Domestic Violence | Sexual Assault | Dating Violence | Stalking
National Domestic Violence Hotline | 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) 1-800-787-3224 (TTY) |
|
Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network (RAINN) | 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) | |
National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline | 1-866-331-9474 1-866-331-8453 (TTY) |
Domestic violence can be defined as a pattern of abusive behavior that is used by an intimate partner to gain or maintain power and control over the other intimate partner. Domestic violence can be physical, sexual, emotional, economic, or psychological actions or threats of actions that influence another person. This includes any behaviors that intimidate, manipulate, humiliate, isolate, frighten, terrorize, coerce, threaten, blame, hurt, injure, or wound someone.
Sexual assault can be defined as any type of sexual contact or behavior that occurs by force or without consent of the recipient of the unwanted sexual activity. Falling under the definition of sexual assault is sexual activity such as forced sexual intercourse, forcible sodomy, child molestation, incest, fondling, and attempted rape. It includes sexual acts against people who are unable to consent either due to age or lack of capacity.
Dating violence is defined as violence committed by a person who is or has been in a social relationship of a romantic or intimate nature with the victim; and where the existence of such a relationship shall be determined based on a consideration of the following factors:
the length of the relationship
the type of relationship
the frequency of interaction between the persons involved in the relationship
Stalking can be defined as a pattern of repeated and unwanted attention, harassment, contact, or any other course of conduct directed at a specific person that would cause a reasonable person to feel fear.
Beatrice Hanson |
Acting Director |
Office on Violence Against Women |
145 N St., NE, Suite 10W.121 Washington, D.C. 20530 202-307-6026 Fax: 202-305-2589 |