~DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IS~
~Domestic violence is not an isolated, individual event but rather a pattern of repeated behaviors that the perpetrator uses to gain power and control over the victim. Unlike stranger-to-stranger violence, in domestic violence situations the same perpetrator repeatedly assaults the same victim. These assaults are often in the form of physical injury but may also be in the form of sexual assault, threats, isolation, emotional mistreatment or economic control. Domestic violence tends to become more frequent and severe over time. Oftentimes the perpetrator is physically violent infrequently, but uses other controlling tactics on a daily basis. All tactics have profound effects on the victims.~
~Domestic violence is found in all types of intimate relationships whether the parties are of the same or opposite sex, are married or dating, or are in a current or past intimate relationship. There are two essential elements in every domestic violence situation: the victim and perpetrator have been intimately involved at some point in time, and the perpetrator consciously chooses to use violence and other abusive tactics to gain control over the victim. In some instances, the abuser may be female while the victim is male; domestic violence also occurs in gay and lesbian relationships. However, it is estimated that 95 percent of reported assaults on spouses or ex-spouses are committed by men against women.~
~Perpetrators of domestic violence can be found in all age, racial, ethnic, cultural, socio-economic, linguistic, educational, occupational and religious groups. We have found, however, that economic and social factors can have a significant impact on how people respond to violent incidents and what kind of help they seek. Affluent people can afford and usually seek private help -- doctors, lawyers and counselors -- while people with fewer financial resources tend to call the police or other public agencies. These agencies are often the only available source of statistics on domestic violence, thereby creating a distorted image of who suffers from and who perpetrates the problem.~
~It is a terrible and recognizable fact that for many people, home is the least safe place. Domestic violence is real violence, often resulting in permanent injuries or death. Battering is a widespread societal problem with consequences reaching far beyond individual families. It is conduct that has devastating effects for individual victims, their children and their communities. In addition to these immediate effects, there is growing evidence that violence within the family becomes the breeding ground for other social problems such as substance abuse, juvenile delinquency, and violent crimes of all types.~
~The enormous amount of attention paid to the issue of domestic violence in recent months has created an environment in which more women feel comfortable admitting they have faced violence at home. In 1995 26 percent of women reported that they had been physically abused by a husband or boyfriend some time in their lives; by January/February of this year, 31 percent of women said that they had personally faced abuse.~
~Despite the fact that awareness about domestic violence is higher than ever before, many people still make excuses for the abuser's actions. No one makes another person act violently; it is a conscious choice. Domestic violence is not caused by alcohol, drugs, stress, the victim's failure to be a better partner or her nagging. Many people who have alcohol and/or drug abuse problems are not violent; similarly, many batterers are not substance abusers. Everyone experiences stress at some time -- frustrations associated with money and work, our families and other personal relationships -- and everyone responds to it differently. Learning how to handle stress constructively is the responsibility of the perpetrator. Even if a violent incident is preceded by a heated verbal argument, NOTHING -- neither words nor actions -- justifies violence against a person, except in cases of self-defense.~
~Domestic violence is receiving more attention today than ever befor, and as a result, Americans are becoming more aware and less tolerant of spousal abuse. Four in five (80 percent) consider domestic violence an extremely or very important social issue. Domestic violence, like other social problems, is found in all sectors of our society, it must stop. There is no excuse for Domestic Abuse.~
~Domestic violence calls are some of the most difficult call police handle, and it's usually because of the very strong emotional involvement. People are very upset when it's to that point where a relationship is either breaking up, or there's some domestic violence and someone's trying to break free of an abusive situation.~
~The law views any type of physical assault as very serious, and if there is probable cause that an assault has taken place on a person, we are mandated to take the primary aggressor into custody.~
~Battering results in more injuries requiring medical care that rape, auto accidents and muggings combined. More that 1 million women seek medical help as a result of battering each year; domestic violence is the most frequently occurring, yet underreported crime in the nation.~
~It is reported that every nine seconds a woman is battered, 30 percent of female homocide victims are killed by their husbands or boyfriends; six percent of male homicide victims are killed by their wives or girlfriends. Dating violence is experienced by one out of every four teenagers. The statistics go on and on.~
~If there is any kind of violence going on, there needs to be some kind of intervention. It's usually a case where it goes in cycles--you can have an abusive situation and it gets better, but usually it will cycle back to the other situation if someone hasn't taken some steps in dealing with that problem. See the links below for information and help but be sure to bookmark this site so you may return to read the very important information.~
~Lloyd Peterson~
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