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On average, nearly 20 people per minute are physically abused by an intimate partner in the United States. During one year, this equates to more than 10 million women and men.

Domestic Violence

Domestic violence involves crimes of violence committed by a current or former spouse or intimate partner of a victim. It is further defined as willful intimidation, physical assault, battery, sexual assault, and/or other abusive behavior patterns that exert power and control over the abused. Domestic violence might include any of the following: physical violence, sexual violence, threats, economic/financial abuse, and emotional/psychological abuse. 

Domestic violence happens in every community, and it impacts all people regardless of nationality, race, age, gender, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, religious background or nationality. In most cases, domestic violence results in physical injury, psychological trauma, and can even lead to death. The devastating after-effects of domestic violence can last a lifetime.

Forms of Domestic Violence

Abuse can occur in any relationship. Forms of domestic violence abuse include financial, emotional, physical and sexual abuse. Domestic violence is not only defined as physical violence. A person can also be the victim of one or more forms of the following forms of abuse:

Financial Abuse

Financial abuse happens when someone uses their financial means (money or property) to control a victim. Most forms of financial abuse are crimes, including theft and fraud. It may include:

  • taking someone’s money or property without their permission
  • withholding or limiting access to money in order to control the victim
  • pressuring the victim to sign legal documents
  • forcing someone to sell items or modify their will
Emotional Abuse

Emotional abuse occurs when a person uses words or actions to control, frighten or isolate someone or take away their self-respect. Emotional abuse is sometimes called psychological abuse. It can include:

  • Incessant yelling or criticism
  • Threats, put downs, name calling or insults
  • Destroying belongings and threatening to harm pets
  • bullying, humiliation or intimidation (including on the Internet)
  • making fun of and/or preventing someone from practicing their faith or religion


Sadly, many of the emotional abuse patterns listed above are not crimes. However, they can be signs that the abuse may become worse.

Emotional abuse crimes include:

  • Threatening to harm the person or someone else
  • Stalking/criminal harassment
Sexual Abuse

Every 68 seconds another American is sexually assaulted. Sexual abuse is defined as abusive sexual behavior inflicted from one person upon another. It includes the following crimes: sexual assault, rape, and sexual abuse. Additionally, it can include sexual touching or sexual activity without consent, continued sexual contact when asked to stop, and/or forcing someone to commit unsafe or humiliating sexual acts.

  • Any sexual contact with someone without their consent is a crime. This includes forcing sexual activity on a spouse, a partner or a dating partner. 
Physical Abuse

Physical abuse, which includes assault, is the use of force against a person without that person’s consent. In many cases it causes physical pain or injury that may have lasting effects. Physical abuse is:

  • Burning
  • Shooting
  • Killing someone
  • Pushing/shoving
  • Stabbing or cutting
  • Pinching/punching
  • Strangling/choking
  • Hitting, slapping or kicking
  • Throwing objects at someone
  • Locking someone in a room or tying them down
  • Holding someone down for someone else to assault

domestic violence

WE ARE HERE

If you or someone you know is experiencing abuse in our community, call our Domestic & Sexual Violence Hotline ‪(704) 759-6478‬ for information and support. Please call 911 if you are experiencing a life-threatening situation.

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