Discussion 5.

1: Domestic Violence Brian Mann

I.

Definition of Domestic Violence:

The US Department of Justice defines domestic violence as: a pattern
of abusive behavior in any relationship that is used by one partner to
gain or maintain power and control over another intimate partner.
Domestic violence can be physical, sexual, emotional, economic, or
psychological actions or threats of actions that influence another
person.
This includes any behaviors that intimidate, manipulate, humiliate,
isolate, frighten, terrorize, coerce, threaten, blame, hurt, injure, or
wound someone (http://www.ovw.usdoj.gov/domviolence.htm).

II.

How often does it occur?

Between 3 million and 4 million adult women in the United States are
abused yearly by an intimate partner.
About one in four women is likely to be abused by a partner in her
lifetime. (Journal of the American Medical Association, 267:31843189, 1992, http://psychcentral.com/lib/what-is-domesticviolence/000349)

III.

What are characteristics of domestic violence victims:

Has poor self-image.
Puts up with abusive behavior.
Is economically and emotionally dependent on the abuser.
Is uncertain of his or her own needs.
Has low self-esteem.
Has unrealistic belief that he or she can change the abuser.
Feels powerless to stop violence.
Believes that jealousy is proof of love.

While abuse can happen to anyone, women are by far the most frequent
victims and men are the most frequent abusers. The U.S. Department of Justice
estimates that 95 percent of the assaults on partners or spouses is committed by men
against women.
Women who are victims of domestic violence often:
Abuse alcohol or other substances.
Have been previously abused.
Are pregnant.
Are poor and have limited support.
Have partners who abuse alcohol or other substances.
Have left their abuser.
Have requested a restraining order against the abuser.
Are members of ethnic minority or immigrant groups.
Have traditional beliefs that women should be submissive to men.

Do not speak English. (http://psychcentral.com/lib/who-are-thevictims-of-domestic-violence/000356)

Common characteristics of domestic violence abusers:

May have intense, dependent relationships with their victims
May have many friends, be well liked by others, and may even have
special talents
May have extremes in behaviors and moods (becomes easily angered,
overdoes nice things, etc.)
May have been abused themselves or observed others being abused
May abuse alcohol or other drugs and may use this to justify abusive
behavior
May be protective of dating partner to the point of controlling that
person
May have difficulty expressing feelings
May have a dual personality (in a rage at one moment and then calm
and apologetic the next moment)
May have certain ideas of how men and women should act (example:
men should be strong and not show emotions; women are helpless and
passive
(http://safeharborsfl.org/domestic-violence/teen-datingviolence/characteristics-of-abusers-and-victims)
IV.

Services are available to men, women and children (victims)

call 911
hospital emergency room.
National Domestic Violence Hotline 800-799-SAFE (7233) or 800787-3224 (TDD).
Domestic violence shelters. Services may include:
Individual counseling
Family counseling
Support groups
Job training and help finding work
Legal help
Help finding permanent housing
Childcare and other services for your children
Help getting financial aid
Transitional housing focuses on giving families a safe space and time
to recover from domestic violence. Services can include:
Support groups
Individual counseling
Family Counseling
Job training
Help finding affordable, permanent housing
Legal help
Childcare and others services for your children
Services for perpetrators include:

o Call UW hotline at 1-800-MEN-1089 ( the Mens Domestic

Abuse Check-Up is a project for men 18 and older who are
concerned or have mixed feelings about their behaviors toward
their partner)
(http://dvsbf.org/get-help/services/perpetrator-treatment/)
o Department of Social Services (in this case South Carolina)
offers to perpetrators:
Information and Referral
Non-residential Services
Case Management/Follow Up
Temporary Shelter Service
Transitional Housing
Support/Psycho-educational Groups
Support Counseling/Children Counseling
Legal and Medical Advocacy
Assistance with obtaining Housing and Employment
Community Awareness and Public Education
Transportation Services
24 Hour Hotline/Crisis Intervention
V.

What are policies about pressing charges against abusers?

According to North Carolina law, the following people are eligible
for a protective order:
Current or former spouses
Persons of opposite sex who live together or have
lived together
Persons related as parents and children or
grandparents and grandchildren
Persons who have a child in common
Current or former household members (includes
same-sex relationships if parties live or have lived
together)
Persons of opposite sex who are in a dating
relationship
According to Chapter 50B, the following acts are considered
domestic violence:
Attempting to or intentionally causing bodily injury
Placing someone or a member of someones family
or household in fear of imminent serious bodily
injury
Committing any act defined in GS 14-27.2 through
14-27.7 (rape & sexual offenses)
Placing someone in fear of continued harassment
that rises to level as to inflict substantial emotional
distress. Harassment is defined the same as in
stalking law, i.e. Conduct that torments, terrorizes,
or terrifies a person.

Includes all types of communication, i.e. written,

telephone, fax, e-mail, voice mail
Victims of domestic violence can request the following relief in a
restraining order:
Direct batterer to refrain from threatening, abusing,
following, harassing, or otherwise interfering with
the victim
Grant victim possession of the residence and
exclude the batterer
Order eviction of batterer from residence and assist
victim in returning to it
Temporary custody of minor children and
establishment of visitation rights
Order spousal support and/or child support
Provide for possession of personal property
Prohibit batterer from purchasing a firearm (see
summary of SB 919)
Order completion of abuser treatment program
Any additional prohibitions or requirements deemed
necessary to protect victim
DVPOs can be entered for up to one year and can be
renewed multiple times for good cause."
Misdemeanor crimes with maximum punishment 150 days in jail
with the highest record level:
Assault on a Female
Communicating Threats
Assault by Pointing a Gun
Domestic Criminal Trespass
Harassing Phone Calls
Injury to Pregnant Woman
Injury to Personal Property
Assault Inflicting Serious Injury
Assault with a Deadly Weapon
Stalking
Interference with Emergency Communication
Violation of a Protective Order
Assault in the Presence of a Child
Sexual Battery
Felony Crimes:
Rape
Sexual Offenses
Non-fatal Strangulation
(http://nccadv.org/pdf/civilandcriminalfordvbasics.pdf)