What Is Domestic Violence?

Information may not be reliable

Among the most rampant yet not highly publicized crimes today begins and happens at home. We see it normally portrayed in TV shows and movies—intimidation and threatening, battery, sexual assault, and so on. But even something as seemingly minor as name calling, put downs, preventing the partner from seeing relatives and friends, or stopping them from taking on a job are also examples of domestic violence as well.

Domestic violence is mainly defined as “a pattern of abusive behavior in any relationship that is used by one partner to gain or maintain power and control over another intimate partner.” It is a multi-faceted act and can be manifested in several manners, such as physical, sexual, economic, emotional, and even psychological. Anyone can be a victim, regardless of their race, age, culture, religion, education, marital status, and gender—although statistics have shown that most domestic abuse victims have been women.

Being confined within the boundaries of an intimate relationship, the lines can sometimes get blurred as to the limits of the one on the receiving end of the abuse. What are the red flags? What if it’s just a one-time thing? When does the act cross the boundary lines of becoming basis for abuse and violence? Such acts do not affect just the victims, but can also have a significant effect on close family, friends, and other witnesses, which can include children. Once it happens even just once, it’s important to assess the damage it has inflicted on the victim and to those closely involved as well. It may be the most difficult thing to do, but overcoming the “martyr complex” is the first step in getting the help that the victim needs.

The most common deterrent for victims of domestic violence to take any kind of legal action is fear. A small step to take to overcome such hindrance is to approach a close relative or friend that could provide you with the emotional support that they’ll need to continue forth with the legal actions. In moving forward, it’s important to get in contact with a criminal attorney that specializes in this field of criminal law. Having a criminal lawyer who’s well versed in this area would be able to address different types and situations of domestic abuse and the proper legal action to take, which would serve in the best interests of the victim. At the end of the day, victims must realize that they are not alone, it is not their fault, and that help is always available.