What
is domestic violence?
Domestic violence is abuse between family members or related persons.
Domestic
violence may come in many forms: actual physical abuse, threats of physical
abuse, emotional abuse, threatening telephone calls, disturbances at a place
of employment, stalking, and other forms of dominance and control.
Domestic
violence is distinguished from other kinds of abuse because of the special
relationship between the persons.
Domestic violence cases may be treated
differently than cases of civil harassment because of the interpersonal relationships
involved.
At least one of the following relationship tests typically must
be met in order to qualify a matter as a domestic violence case:
the parties are married now or were formerly married to one another
the parties are related by blood, marriage or adoption
the parties are currently or were formerly living together
the parties have now or used to have a dating or engagement relationship
the parties have a minor child in common
In some states, there does not have to be actual physical violence between
the parties;
emotional abuse or fear of physical harm is sufficient to qualify
as domestic violence.
