Domestic violence is a pattern of gender-based intimate partner, dating, or family violence with a central dynamic of power and control.

Domestic violence is intended to harm the physical and/or mental well-being of the victim and can be psychological, physical, economic or sexual in nature.

Domestic violence is rarely an isolated incident – it is a pattern of coercive behavior intended to exert control and domination by the offender over the victim.

Domestic violence incidents usually escalate in frequency and severity. Often in the early stages, the victim may not even realize s/he is in an abusive relationship. By the time the victim does realize it, there are often many barriers to leaving. Without outside intervention to protect the victim, stop the violence, and hold the abuser accountable, the results can be in serious physical injury or death.

Domestic violence harms everyone in a family, a household, a neighborhood, a community and our society as a whole.

Learn about the signs of abuse