What is Domestic Violence?

Domestic violence/dating violence is about one person getting and keeping power and control over another person in an intimate relationship. It is a pattern of behavior in which one intimate partner uses physical violence, coercion, threats, intimidation, isolation, and emotional, sexual, economic, or other forms of abuse to control and change the behavior of the other partner. The abusive person might be your current or former spouse, live-in lover, dating partner, or some other person with whom you have a relationship. Children are innocent bystanders when they witness domestic violence. Domestic Violence can cause physical and emotional harm to a child's well being such as anxiety, depression, etc.