DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

Domestic violence is a pattern of abusive behavior in any relationship that is used by one person to gain or maintain power and control over another intimate partner or family member.

Abusive behavior can come in the forms of physical, emotional, verbal, and sexual. Abusers make it very difficult for victims to escape relationships. Sadly, many survivors suffer from abuse for decades. Abuse can come from intimate partners (heterosexual and homosexual), mothers, fathers, in-laws, siblings, adult children, etc. 

  • Pushing, grabbing, or shaking your body

    Scratching or biting

    Choking/Strangling

    Throwing things around the home to intimidate you

    Abusing your children or household pets

    Damaging your things and personal property

    Hitting or kicking you

    Using weapons or tools to hurt you

  • Threatening to hurt you physically

    Threatening to hurt themselves

    Yelling and screaming

    Blaming you for their abusive behaviors

    Humiliating and putting you down

    Isolating you

    Controlling your time, activities and contacts with others (including family)

    Withholding information or lying about important household matters

  • Description text goes hereWithholding access to bank accounts, records and/or asset information from you

    Hiding financial documents from you

    Having my access to your income

    Controlling how money is spent

    Damaging your credit

    Withholding money or giving meager allowance

    Not allowing you to work or earn money

    Interfering with your work

  • Forcing you to have sex

    Forcing you to perform any sexual activity you are not comfortable with

    Asking to have sex when you are unable to consent

    Saying or doing sexually humiliating things

    Forcing you to watch something you are not comfortable watching

    Forcing you to have abortion, pregnancy, or sterilization

Did You Know That…

  • 1 out of every 4 women in the U.S. have experienced domestic violence in their lifetime? 

  • 1.3 million women are impacted by domestic violence in the U.S. every year?

  • More than five children die every day as a result of child abuse? 

  • Every 2 minutes, someone in the U.S. is sexually assaulted?

  • 1 in 4 women, and 1 in 5 men are sexually abused before the age of 18?

Domestic violence and sexual assault are never just a women’s issue. It’s a human and social issue affecting men, women, children, victims, their families, friends, our communities, and everyone.