Guides
- Is Drunk Driving a Felony, What’s the Punishment, and How Many People Die From It?
- What is Domestic Abuse vs. Domestic Violence, and What Are the Differences?
- What is a Roommate Agreement, What Are the Benefits, and What Should You Include?
- What is Public Indecency, and What Are the Laws, Charges, and Penalties?
- What Are the Pocket Knives Laws, Legal Lengths, and Rules for Illegal Types?
- What is Aiding and Abetting and What Are the Punishments and Charges for It?
- Where Can You Be Naked in Public and Celebrate National Nude Day?
- What Is Child Custody and How to File for It Without an Attorney
- What to Do if Someone Has Stolen Your Driver's License Number and How to Replace It
- What is Bail Jumping: Punishments and Jail Time for Failure to Appear in Court
- Dating a Minor: Is It Legal and What Is the Age of Consent?
- How to Conduct a Dating Profile Search and Find Someone on a Dating Site
- What is Personally Identifiable Information and Why is PII Protection Important?
- What Is a No-Fault Divorce, When Did It Start and Why It Can Be Bad
- The Differences Between Moving And Non-Moving Violations
- What are Aggravating and Mitigating Factors in a Criminal Case?
- What Is ADR: Process, Meaning And Examples
- Definition and Differences Between Conspiracy Theories and Conspiracy Charge
- How to Get a Divorce: Process, Stages and Required Papers
- Embezzlement as a White-Collar Crime: Definition, Meaning, and Examples
- What Is a Car Registration, How Much Does It Cost and How to Get One?
- Types of Email Archiving and How to Retrieve Them
- How to Protect Your Car From Theft or Report It Stolen
- How to Organize and Protect Your Personal Documents?
- How to Find and Reconnect With Old Friends: Proven Techniques That Work
- Business Records: Types, Examples and How to Search
- Right to Privacy: Is It Protected By The Constitution?
- Ownership and Tenancy in Severalty in Real Estate
- What Different Types of Marriages Are There?
- Should You Believe in Age Gap Rules Calculation
- What Is Driver’s License Status and How To Check It
- What Is Civil Marriage: Pros and Cons
- Top 5 Most Famous Serial Killers Of All Times
- What Was The Subprime Mortgage Crisis
- Most Famous Murder Cases Throughout History
- The Dynamics and Consequences of Ghosting Someone in Personal Relationships
- What is Incarceration? Definition, Process, and Impact
- What is A Mortgage-Backed Security (MBS)
- Is AI Dangerous? Unveiling the Risks of Artificial Intelligence
- What is a VPN?
- 7 Cybersecurity Threats to Look Out For
- What Are Debtors and Creditors, and What Are Their Legal Rights and Differences?
- What Are the Types of Business Ownership and How Can You Transfer It?
- What is a Tax Lien, How Does It Work & How to Stop One?
- What is the Difference Between Civil and Criminal Cases?
- Property Ownership Types You Should Know About
- Community Safety Initiatives: How to Make Your Neighborhood Safer
- What is a Lien and How Lien Priority Works?
- Campus Safety 101: Essential Tips for a Secure College Life
- How to Know If Someone Is Divorced?
- What are the CCPA and CPRA?
- How to Get Over a Breakup?
- U.S. Violent Crime Definition & Statistics
- The 5 Steps You Should Know When Adopting a Child
- What Is Criminal Profiling and Is It Really Effective?
- A Full Guide on Reasonable Suspicion vs Probable Cause
- What Is Email Encryption & How to Encrypt an Email?
- What is a White Collar Crime? A Full Guide
- Rental Scams: How Do They Work & How to Catch Scammers?
- A Complete Guide on Parole vs Probation
- How to Submit a Data Removal Request and Hide Results About You on Google Search
- A Full Guide on House Arrests
- A Complete Guide on Marriage and Civil Union
- How to Safeguard Yourself and Deal with Marriage Debt
- What is Eyewitness Testimony?
- A Full Guide on Gentrification: Why is it a Problem?
- 8 Most Dangerous Twitter Scams and How to Avoid Them
- Pretexting Attacks: Common Types and How to Deal with Them
- How Do Zelle Scams Work and Things to Look Out For
- What Is Business Email Compromise, How to Defend Against It?
- What Is a Wellness Check, What Does It Consist of and How to Call For It?
- What Is a Temporary Restraining Order and How Do You Get One?
- What is Smishing And How to Prevent it?
- Spam Emails: Types and Ways to Block Them
- Email Masking & Masked Email Addresses
- Spot a Fake QR Code & Avoid Getting Scammed
- Common NFT Scams to Look Out For & Ways to Avoid the Fake Ones
- What to Do If You Witness a Crime?
- What Is Skip Tracing and How Does It Work?
- How to Avoid Common Venmo Scams and Protect Yourself From Scammers
- Can You Get Child Custody If You Have a Criminal Record?
- Common Amazon Scams and Ways on How to Avoid Them
- How to Find Liens on a Property?
- Multiple Bankruptcies: How Often You Can File One?
- How to Adopt a Child in the US?
- I Lost My Birth Certificate. What Should I Do?
- Warning Signs of Job Scams and How to Protect Yourself
- What Is a Ban the Box Law?
- What is Expungement?
- How to Transfer Property After Death Without Will
- What Is a Police Blotter?
- How to Appeal a Parking Ticket
- What Is a Clean Driving Record, How It Affects Insurance and How to Keep It Clean
- What is Title Washing?
- What is Extortion?
- How To Run a Motorcycle Title Search
- What Is a Digital Footprint?
- What is Anti Money Laundering (AML)?
- Guide on How to Get a Death Certificate
- What is the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)?
- What is Multi Factor Authentication?
- What is a Citizen's Arrest?
- How to Know that You’re in an Obsessive Relationship
- Guide to Online Survey Scams
- 13 Different Types of Police Officers
- Full Guide on Work-from-Home Scams
- Is Private Browsing Really Private?
- Different Types of Felony Classes & Charges
- What is Juice Jacking?
- What are Romance Scams?
- Traffic Offenses and Violations
- What is Doxing and How to Prevent it?
- What are Spam Text Messages
- The U.S. Death Penalty: History and Modern Usage
- What Are the Different Types of Bankruptcies and Which One Is Right for You?
- Common eBay Scams to be Aware of
- What Happens When You are Booked in Jail?
- What Information Can You Get From A License Plate
- Different Types of Assets
- How to Search and Find Family Members and Relatives Who Are Long Lost?
- Car History Guide, Benefits, Importance
- Am I Dating a Stalker?
- How to Find out if Your Partner is Cheating
- What Are the Types and Tools of Packet Sniffing Attacks?
- Intellectual Property Law and Rights
- Cyberstalking And Its Dangers
- A Guide to Phishing Scams
- What is Organized Crime?
- I’ve Lost My Driver’s License: What Should I Do?
- Misdemeanor Charges: Types, Classes, and Penalties
- A Complete Guide On Catfishing
- Vanity Phone Numbers: Why They Are Important and How to Get One
- What Happens When You Get Arrested
- Guide to Find Information About a Person Online
- How To Find And Claim Unclaimed Money
- What Happens if You Violate Probation
- Guide on How to Remove a Mugshot from the Internet
- How to Stay Safe on Public WiFi
- What Is an Outstanding Warrant and How Can You Check if You Have One?
- Different Types of Car Insurance
- What Is Cyptojacking?
- What Is Email Security?
- What Is the Deep Web and What Can Be Found There?
- What Happens When You Declare Bankruptcy
- How Divorce Settlements are Calculated
- What are Common Methods of Social Engineering
- What is the Difference Between a General Lien and a Specific Lien?
- How to Detect Odometer Rollback
- Different Types of Probation
- Finding forgotten life insurance policies
- What is Bearer Bond and Why the US Banned it
- Everything you need to know about small claims court
- Moral Turpitude: Definition, Examples, and Much More!
- Misdemeanor vs Felony
- How to Read a VIN Number and What It Tells You
- How to Find Out Who Hacked Your Cell Phone
- How Long Does a Misdemeanor Stay On Your Criminal Record?
- The Paypal Phishing Scam You Should Care to Avoid
- How Many Different Types of State License Plates Are There and Which Is the Standard One?
- Effects of Cyberbullying: Complete Guide for Parents
- What is the DPPA?
- Is Petty Theft a Misdemeanor and What Are the Consequences?
- What is a Life Sentence? Life in Prison
- Find out How to Check if Someone Has a Warrant Online for Free
- Is a Marriage Certificate the Same as a Marriage License and What Are the Differences?
- The Ten Most Popular Celebrity Mugshots
- How to Find Out if Someone is Married?
- How to Stop Phone Number Spoofing?
- How To Avoid Probate
- Dealing with abandoned vehicles in your neighborhood
- How to Find Someone's Cell Phone Number by Their Name
- Who Are the Worst Drivers in America?
- How To Find Unclaimed Money From Deceased Relatives
- What is a Digital License Plate?
- How to Find out if Someone Died?
- Murder vs Manslaughter: The Differences and Definitions
- How to Hire a Private Investigator?
- What Is a Number Neighbor?
- How to Find Out if Someone was Arrested
- How to Find Someone's Birthday?
- What is a Car Title
- How to Obtain a Police Report and Court Records?
- What is the Punishment for Filing a False Police Report?
- Prison Valley: Look inside Prison Town
- How to Get Custody of a Child Without Going to Court?
- How to Find Someone’s Social Media Profiles?
- What to Do if Your Phone Is Tapped?
- What Is a Deed in Real Estate?
- Where Was The First US Federal Penitentiary Established?
- Can You Track Someone's Location with Just a Phone Number?
- What Is a Restricted Phone Call and How to Block The Number?
- Who is the Most Dangerous Prisoner in the World?
- Poshmark Scams: How to Prevent and Report Them
- What to Do When Someone Is Missing: Practical Steps on How to Find a Missing Person
- How to Send Money to an Inmate in a Prison or Jail
- DUI vs DWI: The Difference Between DUI and DWI
- How Long After Buying a Car Do You Need to Register it?
- How to Find Someone's Address?
- What is an Ignition Interlock Device?
- What Is Situational Crime Prevention?
- How Can I Find Out Who Called Me for Free?
- Gun Free Zone Statistics and Facts
- Online Threats and Digital Security: Trends, Types and Most Common Examples
- Cold Cases: Best Practices For Police Officers and Investigators
- Court Order: Definition, Types and Examples
- What Does a Fingerprint Background Report Show?
- How to Check Your Criminal Record?
- What is Tort Law?
- How to Calculate Child Support
- Property Rights: Definition, and Characteristics
- 12 Common Reasons for Public Records Request
- What is Antitrust Law?
- Virginia Gun Confiscation Law
- Ways to Know Who Owns a House
- Neighborhood Watch Program
- How to Perform a Mugshot Search?
- Crime Mapping
- Safest Colleges in Florida
- Veterans Guide to Cars and Driving
- U.S. Correctional System: Structure, Incarceration and Facts
- License Plate Laws in the US
- How to Find Out If Someone Is in Jail?
- Email Hacking: Laws, Penalties and Protection
- Romeo and Juliet Laws
- Holiday Safety for Home and Family
- Differences between Criminal and Arrest Records
- Public Records and Property History: What is Public Information and What Isn’t
- How to Look up Immigration Inmates?
- Famous Prisons in the USA
- How to Find Out Who Owns a Vehicle Using Reverse Lookup Tools
- How to Search for Your Family Tree?
- The Federal Judicial Center
- Mass Incarceration in the USA
- What is COPPA (Children's Online Privacy Protection Act)?
- Data Safety After The Capital One Breach
- Scholarships Guide for Students
- Complete Guide to Student Safety
- What Is a Vehicle Identification Number?
- Determining Divorce: 5 Types of Divorce You Must Know
- Sex Offenders: Complete Guide to be Protected
- New Privacy Laws and Public Records
- Motor Vehicle Registration in the US
- Digital Token Age: Security Laws and Regulations
- Facial Recognition Technology and Legal Restrictions
- What Shows up in a Background Report
- What is Repossession of a Car?
- Protecting Yourself from Phone Scams
- Human Rights in the Prison
- What are Business Competition Laws?
- What is a Hate Crime?
- Starting a Business and Business Licenses
- General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Guidance
- Criminal Justice Reform
- Tax Reform Impact and Changes To Know
- Self-Driving Cars: Laws and Regulations
- White-Collar Crime: Statistics and Facts
- Have You Been Arrested? Cases You'll Need a Lawyer
- How to Get a Driver's License in the US
- Car Theft in the US: Statistics and Facts
- Identity Theft Passport Program
- Changing your Name after Marriage: What You Need to Know
- Finding the Perfect Roommate: Dos and Donts
- What to Do in a Car Accident?
- Property Crimes: How to Burglar Proof Your Home
- Consumer Laws in the US: What Do They Mean for a Customer and a Business Owner
- Child Trafficking: The Scope, Understanding, and Prevention
- Business Assets: A Guide to the Financial Health of your Business
- Guide To The College Application: How, When and Where to Apply
- Which States Have “Stand Your Ground” Laws?
- Adolescent Depression Symptoms and Causes
- Things to Know About the U.S. State Department Travel Advisory System
- Inheritance in the US: With & Without a Will
- Online Dating Safety Guide for Men and Women
- Sexual Abuse in the U.S.: Laws and Statistics
- Supporting Children After Divorce: Child Custody Options
- Halloween Horrors Come to Life: Holidays Crimes in the U.S.
- Charity Scams in the U.S.: Be Aware and Protected
- Webcam Hacking & Spying in the US
- Freedom of Religion in the U.S.
- Senior Financial Scams: How are the Elderly Targeted and How to Avoid It
- Catcalling: Is it illegal? How to Deal With It
- A Complete Guide To Insurance Fraud: Common Types and Prevention
- Sextortion: What to Do if You Became a Victim of Blackmailing
- Concealed Carry: How to Protect Yourself on Campus
- Debt Collection Laws | Fair Debt Collection Act: What You Need To Know
- How Much Is My House Worth? Ultimate Guide to Home Buying and Selling
- Traits of Sociopaths, Are They Dangerous and How to Deal With Them?
- Who Are Your Neighbors and How to Find Out About Them
- Learn How to Find Your Birth Parents
- The Importance of Public Records in Law
- What's The Difference Between a Jail And a Prison?
- Homeowner's Insurance Coverage & Common Claims
- The Disturbing Facts of Gun Violence in America
- How to Use Public Records in Marketing
- Best & Worst Cities for Driving
- LGBT Bullying
- A Parent's Guide to Keeping Your Child Drug-Free
- What You Need to Know When Buying or Selling a Used Car
- Guide to Filing for Bankruptcy
- Making Your DMV Experience Fast And Easy
- How to Appeal the Court's Decision
- How to Fight a Traffic Ticket?
- How to Prepare For an Active Shooter Incident
- How to Protect Yourself Against Cyber Attacks
- How to Report a Crime?
- Keeping Your Neighborhood Safe For Your Family
- School Safety and Security Standards
- 50 Things to Know When Filing for Divorce
- Tips for Back-to-School Safety and Security
- A User's Guide to Warrants
- What to Do When You Are Stopped By the Police
What is Domestic Abuse vs. Domestic Violence, and What Are the Differences?
Domestic abuse and violence are sometimes used interchangeably despite being two separate concepts. They may refer to a similar idea of unfair treatment in the home environment. However, domestic violence relates to one-off acts, and abuse is a prolonged pattern of behavior that involves control of one person over another. Domestic violence is committed by one family member or partner against the other.
However, domestic abuse refers to when a person continually perpetrates mistreatment of their family member or intimate partner. It is about the pattern of the offender-to-victim relationship rather than the crime itself. So domestic abuse is the pattern of behavior, while domestic violence is the incident of aggression.
What is Domestic Abuse?
Domestic abuse is considered to be a series of actions rather than a one-off incident where the perpetrator effected threatening, degrading, or violent behavior. It tends to occur in relationships with an imbalance of power so that one is socially, physically, financially, or physically stronger than their victim.
Domestic Abuse Definition
Domestic abuse is a pattern of abusive behavior toward a partner in a dating or marriage relationship, in which case the abuser exerts their power over the victim. This can take place in a physical, economic, or sexual nature. The abuser can use several behavior patterns to frighten, intimidate, or manipulate the victim for their interests. It can also be perpetrated on people of any race, gender, and age. It can happen to people who are married, living together, or dating.
What is Considered Domestic Abuse?
Domestic abuse is not limited to hitting or spitting at a partner, as it can include a variety of things. It can also take the form of emotional, sexual, financial, digital abuse, or coercive control. Emotional abuse happens when the actor gives threats, isolates, and humiliates the victim to do their bidding. This can also be interpreted as coercion because it follows a pattern of intimidation and degradation.
Sexual abuse is any action that pressures an individual to perform sexual acts they are not willing to do. That entails rape, unwanted kissing, or even refusing to use condoms during sex.
Financial abuse is quite subtle and harder to track, but it involves controlling what the other person can and cannot spend their money on. There are signs to it, though, like being restricted from accessing the bank account, limiting the hours a person can work so they are not profitable, or even preventing them from working.
Digital abuse happens when the perpetrator uses social media to harass, bully, or intimidate a partner for humiliation purposes. It is also about limiting access to technological devices and the people the victim can interact with on social media platforms.
Signs of Domestic Abuse
Most experience difficulty within their relationships from time to time. However, it is essential to solve issues productively and amicably. At times, it is hard to tell if you are the victim of domestic abuse, though, because it can be camouflaged under care or manipulation. To know if you are in an abusive relationship, consider the way the behavior of a family member or partner makes you feel.
If the answer is being controlled, unable to state your opinion, or general intimidation, that is abuse. Luckily, there are clear signs that you may be in a relationship with domestic abuse. You feel anxious, especially when in your partner’s presence because you must attend to their every need. You constantly worry about how your partner may react to mundane things, and this anxiety alters your behavior to achieve peace in the home.
Your partner regularly criticizes you and makes you doubt yourself. They are also good at making you doubt events or interactions that happen around you and to you. An interaction may have sounded disrespectful, but they convinced you it was in good fun or with the best intentions. You are made to feel guilty and do not have the freedom to do things that you usually would do by yourself. It is intimidating or quite scary when the person is angry because there is little limit to what they will do as punitive measures to you, and their behavior when angry is often unpredictable.
What is Domestic Violence?
This is violence that is committed by someone against another in a home setting. It is also a one-off occurrence that may be part of a pattern but is judged as a singular event. For more information, see the violent crime rate by state.
Domestic Violence Definition
Domestic violence is an aggressive or cruel event that is a culmination of negative behavior within a relationship. One uses it to gain power and control over their family or partners. In criminal law, it can include attempted assault, threats of physical harm, or take the form of sexual assault.
What is Considered Domestic Violence?
Domestic violence is related to physical acts of violence, which can take several forms, including hitting, grabbing, slapping, stabbing, shooting, burning, or biting. Physical aggression against a person in the home may also entail withholding of basic needs such as sleep or food. Locking a victim out of the house or refusing to give up a sick person can also be considered a form of domestic violence. Due to the physical nature of sexual abuse, this also falls under domestic violence. That is rape and molestation.
Signs of Domestic Violence
There are physical and emotional signs of domestic violence. For obvious reasons, the physical signs are the easiest to decipher. It could include black eyes, limb bruises, and broken bones. A person who is suffering from domestic violence might not be able to explain their injuries, or the reasons given might seem inconsistent. Heavy injuries can also be covered by extra clothing and makeup. Victims tend to shy away from social events to avoid having to explain injuries.
In the same way, there are physical signs of domestic violence; there are emotional signs as well. People experiencing domestic violence are likely to exhibit significant changes in their behavior, which should alert them that something is wrong. If the person has increased anxiety or sudden irritability, it is a sign that something in their home life is not going as planned.
They will appear more fearful alternatively and cringe if you make sudden moves or sounds. This is a trauma response to what their psyche has gotten used to in private. Low self-esteem and lack of interest in previously taken hobbies can be signs they suffer at home and need an outlet.
Difference Between Domestic Violence and Domestic Abuse
The difference between domestic abuse and violence is in the progression and the relationship. Domestic violence does not instantly happen in most cases. Rather, it happens after there has been negative behavior over time, which is domestic abuse.
Domestic Abuse vs. Domestic Violence
Domestic abuse happens when negative behavior causes mental and emotional damage to the victim in most cases. There is less emphasis on physical aggression because it changes the definition when the actor uses violence to achieve their interests. For this reason, domestic violence is more oriented toward physical and emotional damage to the victim. Secondly, because domestic violence is more physical, it may carry a higher sentence when the court convicts the person.
Domestic abuse is generally dealt with by family courts. An alleged abuser may lose property, be forced to pay spousal support, or be issued a restraining order. This is because it is more of a civilian matter. Domestic violence is more physical, and so is criminally illegal. Depending on the level of the assault, convicted violent offenders may earn anything upwards of six months in jail to life in prison for cases of murder.
Types of Domestic Abuse and Domestic Violence
Domestic abuse and domestic violence can take many forms, each causing significant harm to the victim. Understanding the different types helps in recognizing and addressing these issues effectively.
Types of Domestic Abuse
Due to the nature of abuse as a pattern of behavior to inflict pain or humiliate the victim, it can take various forms. These include controlling behavior verbal, physical, psychological, and sexual abuse.
Types of Domestic Violence
Domestic violence is physical, so it narrows it down to particular behavior.
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Assault: Domestic violence can take the form of assault, where the perpetrator employs various means of aggression on the victim. That can be hitting, spitting, punching, kicking, biting, burning, or stabbing. It can also lead to extreme cases of maiming and murder.
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Sexual violence: It is forcefully making an individual do sexual acts and can include rape and molestation.
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Stalking: Stalking is also a prominent form of domestic violence. It involves watching the victim from a distance, breaking into their home, or violating set restraining orders to confront the victim.
Domestic Abuse and Domestic Violence Statistics
Statistics on domestic abuse and domestic violence reveal the widespread impact of these issues, highlighting the urgent need for awareness and intervention.
Domestic Violence Statistics
The nature of domestic violence is the potential for injury and even death that results from these acts. Apparently, there are 16800 homicides and over $2 million worth of injuries caused because of intimate partner violence on an annual basis. As sexual assault is part of the issue, one in five women and 59 men in the United States have been a victim of rape within their lifetime.
Domestic Abuse Statistics
Due to the nature of abuse, which is mainly nonphysical, more people have experienced it rather than domestic violence. This is so much that only 1 in 24 cases of abuse get reported in later life because it usually happens at a younger age. In the United States, nearly half of all women and men, almost 49%, have experienced psychological aggression by a partner in their lifetime.
Seeking Help and Legal Support
Seeking help and legal support is crucial for victims of domestic abuse and violence. There are numerous resources available to assist survivors in finding safety and justice.
Domestic Violence Lawyer
It is important to note that legal assistance is always within reach for abuse victims. Survivors of domestic abuse find themselves having to navigate the court system. A domestic violence lawyer is a valuable resource, especially if you can find one with knowledge of that area. They cost a lot of money, but getting legal assistance is worth the effort if it means peace of mind for the victim.
Resources for Victims
Fortunately, domestic violence gets a lot of attention from the public and the private sector. Hence, there are support groups and domestic violence programs where one can get a protection order or shelter. Domestic violence programs in the United States offer 24-hour crisis numbers, advocacy, safety planning, children's services, and counseling. These services are primarily confidential for the victim, especially if they prefer discretion.
Domestic abuse and violence have been used interchangeably in many discussions, but they allude to different things. The former concerns a pattern of negative behavior toward a victim, which can be emotional, psychological, sexual, or, in some cases, physical. Domestic violence is the culmination of this pattern of behavior leading to physical aggression, which injures the victim or worse. The signs of both abuse and violence are similar as they entail anxiety, lack of participation in social gatherings, and drastic changes in behavior. There are helplines, though, for domestic abuse and violence victims. Community programs offer advocacy, children's services, and counseling to the survivors.