Are You a Victim?

What is domestic violence?

Domestic violence encompasses a wide range of acts committed by one person against another in an intimate relationship or within a family. It is a pattern of coercive behavior that is used by one person to gain power and control over another.

This may include:

• Physical violence
• Sexual, emotional and psychological intimidation
• Verbal abuse
• Stalking
• Economic control

It may take the form of:

• Breaking objects
• Hurting/killing pets
• Yelling
• Driving recklessly to endanger or scare the victim
• Isolating the victim from friends and family members
• Controlling resources like money, vehicles, credit, medications and time

In same gender relationships:

• It can include threats to out the victim

Domestic violence can happen to people of all racial, economic, educational, religious backgrounds and in heterosexual and same gender relationships. While both men and women may be victims of domestic violence, research shows that the overwhelming majority of adult victims are women and that domestic violence is a major cause of injury to women.

If you or someone you know is in an abusive relationship, get help!
Domestic violence is a crime!

24 Hour Toll Free Hotline
1-866-202-5573

Facts & Statistics

• Nearly 1.5 million (1 in 11) high schools students nationwide experienced physical abuse from a dating partner in a single year
• 1 in 5 high schools girls has been sexually abused by a dating partner
• One in every four women will experience domestic violence in her lifetime. One in 33 men have experienced an attempted or complete rape.
• An estimated 1.3 million women are victims of physical assault by and intimate partner each year.
• The majority (73%) of family violence victims are female. Females were 84% of spousal abuse victims and 86% of abuse victims at the hands of a boyfriend.
• The cost of intimate partner violence exceeds $5.8 billion each year. $4.1 billion of which is for direct medical and mental health services.
• Boys who witness domestic violence are twice as likely to abuse their own partners and children when they become adults.