subject: What Is Domestic Violence [print this page] Oxford defines domestic violence as - Oxford defines domestic violence as -
Violent or aggressive behaviour within the home, typically involving the violent abuse of a spouse or partner.
In legal terms, it defines the domestic violence as
1. The unlawful exercise of physical force or intimidation by the exhibition of such force.
2. Strength of emotion or of a destructive natural force.
It is quite clear from the definition that the domestic violence can be physical or non-physical (emotional). Domestic violence encompasses violence against both men and women and includes violence in gay and lesbian relationships.
Domestic violence consists of a pattern of coercive behaviors used by a member of the family to establish and maintain power and control over another member of the family. Such behaviors include physical violence, psychological abuse, stalking, and non-consensual sexual behavior. These can occur alone or in combination, sporadically or continually.
Domestic violence is not a new phenomenonit spans history and cultures. The Common Law of England permitted a man to beat his wife.
Types of Domestic Violence
As stated above, the domestic violence falls broadly into two categories: physical and non-physical.
Physical Domestic Violence
Physical violence is the deliberate use of physical force with the potential for causing harm. Physical violence includes:
scratching or biting
pushing
shoving or throwing
grabbing
choking
shaking
hair-pulling
slapping, punching or hitting
assault with weapons (gun, knife, or other object)
holding
binding
use of restraints or one's body, size, or strength against another person.
Physical violence also includes encouraging other people to do any of the above things.
Non-Physical (Psychological) Domestic Violence
Psychological violence and controlling behaviour is behaviour which does not give equal importance and respect to another person's feelings and experiences.
Psychological violence includes
intimidation
coercion
degradation and humiliation
false accusations
refusal to listen to, or denial of, another person's feelings
controlling or telling people what they do
do not feel and ridiculing or shaming of their feelings
stalking including cyber stalking
threats of physical harm to the victim or others
Psychological violence is often the most difficult to pinpoint or identify.
The Magnitude of Domestic Violence Menace
Police in the United States spend approximately a third of their time responding to domestic violence calls. This is a telling comment on how prevalent the issue of domestic violence is.
It is a fact the domestic violence is highly under-reported. Women report to the police only 20% of all rapes, 25% of all physical assaults, and 50% of all stalking perpetrated by intimate partners.
Domestic violence in New Jersey
As per DOMESTIC VIOLENCE STATISTICAL SUMMARY prepared by State of New Jersey, Department of Law and Public Safety, Division of State Police and Uniform Crime Reporting Uni (ref: http://www.njsp.org/info/ucr2010/pdf/2010_domestic_violence.pdf) , there were 74,244 domestic violence offenses reported by the police in 2010, a 1 percent increase compared to the 73,709 reported in 2009. Among them, assaults accounted for 42 percent (31,234) and harassment accounted for 44 percent (32,598).
According to the same report, arrests were made in 31 percent (22,738) of the offenses reported for 2010.
It was also noted that the most domestic violence occurrences in New Jersey, 12721, was on Sunday.
Act now against domestic violence
The domestic violence is a punishable act. If you are any of your friends or relatives is being or has been subjected to domestic violence, you should approach police or a domestic violence attorney for legal help.
