Information About Domestic Violence

Domestic violence is a pattern of physical, sexual, emotional and/or financial abuse perpetrated with the intent and result of establishing and maintaining control over an intimate partner. The abuser’s pattern may include both criminal and non-criminal acts.

Criminal behaviors may include: hitting, choking, kicking, assaulting with a weapon, shoving, scratching, biting, raping, kidnapping, threatening to kill, stalking,arson or destroying personal property and attacking pets.

Non-criminal behaviors may include: making degrading comments, accusations of cheating or lying, interrogating children or other family members, threatening to commit suicide, controlling access to money and monitoring the victim’s time and activities, distancing from family and friends. The abuse may be directed at persons other than the victim (e.g., children, parents) for the purpose of controlling the victim.

The cycle can happen hundreds of times in an abusive relationship.

Each stage lasts a different amount of time, with the total cycle taking

from a few hours to a year or more to complete.