Domestic Violence
Domestic Violence is a pattern of assaultive and
coercive behavior aimed at gaining power and control over one's partner.
Domestic violence effects one out of every three families. Although the
majority of cases reported are women being victimized by men, anyone can be a
victim including men.
Facts about Domestic Violence
-
Eighty one percent of women who were stalked by a current or former intimate partner
were also physically assaulted by that partner.
- Forty percent of female homicide victims are killed by intimate partners.
- Domestic Violence is the single most unreported crime in the United States.
- Seventy Five percent of all Domestic Related Murders occur after the couple stops living together.
- Four Thousand women will be killed each year as a direct result of Domestic Violence.
Is Your Partner Abusive?
- Does your partner insult you or make fun of you?
- Does your partner think their feelings are more important than yours?
- Is your partner jealous when you want to see your family or friends?
- Has your partner ever thrown things, hit, kicked, shoved strangled or grabbed you?
- Do you often apologize or make excuses for your partners behavior?
- Are you afraid to end the relationship with your partner because they have threatened to hurt you or themselves?
If you answered yes to any of these questions you may be in an abusive relationship,
for assistance please contact LACADA or your local Domestic Violence Shelter.
What you can do to help a friend in an abusive situation
- Be there to listen when they need you.
- Call the police if you see or hear abuse.
- Give them information on services in your area for Domestic Violence
- Offer rides, offer to babysit, or offer to let them use the phone so they can use these services.
- Be supportive in whatever decision they make.
- Believe what they are telling you.
- Be careful not to make judgements about the decisions they have made or the situation they are in.
- Don't gossip about what your friend told you.
- Remind them that they are not responsible for the abuse
