The crime of domestic violence occurs when a person is forced to do what his/her abuser wants through verbal, physical, psychological, or sexual violence.
It is important to remember that while most victims of domestic violence are women—and these women are certainly victims—not all abuse is by men toward women. It is important to remember that there are six types of cases covered by our statute, and that all six occur on the docket almost every order of protection day.
- Men who commit violence against women.
- Women who commit violence against men.
- Men who commit violence against other men, including in homosexual relationships.
- Women who commit violence against other women, including in lesbian relationships.
- Adults who commit violence against children.
- Adults who commit violence against elders.
The patterns of abuse does not usually begin with an act of violence. Psychological abuse, including isolation, minimization of her decision-making abilities and obsessive jealousy, are usually initiated first. Abuse or battering is a system of behaviors to control another person's actions and feelings.
Domestic Violence: Domestic violence is a pattern of coercive behavior in which one person attempts to control another person through threats or actual use of physical, emotional, psychological, financial, sexual, and/or spirtual abuse.