Domestic Violence Definition, Statistics, Awareness, Law & Advocacy

This domestic violence guide will forever change the way you look at domestic violence

Our Guide to Freedom from Domestic Violence is a game-changer. It will help you gain incredible knowledge and awareness about domestic violence in California and the United States.

We discuss domestic violence's definition, statistics, bring you awareness, show you how a victim can escape the violence and become a survivor, the serious consequences to a perpetrator and so much more.

We wrote this comprehensive guide for five groups

1. Domestic violence victims and survivors,
2. Those individuals who want to help victims of domestic violence,
3. Individuals and companies, including the media, who write about domestic violence and need a citable resource,
4. Those who volunteer their time at shelters, clinics and non-profits, and
5. Those men and women who want to learn more about domestic violence.

This domestic violence guide is not just a guide on domestic violence within family law, criminal law and civil law

This domestic violence guide provides you with:

1. A list of resources available to domestic violence victims and survivors of all demographics,
2. Tips for individuals who want to help domestic violence victims,
3. Domestic violence statistics that will inform and may surprise you, and
4. Domestic violence coverage in the news and media.

Domestic violence resource pamphlet

Separate from this guide, we created a digital domestic violence resource pamphlet for victims and survivors. Click on the image below to access this PDF document.

Our goal in this guide was to cover nearly every aspect of domestic violence

We want victims and survivors, advocates, writers and everyone else to have a terrific resource.

What is domestic violence?

Domestic violence is abuse. That abuse may be physical, verbal and/or psychological. The intent is the same - to injure or degrade a victim.

Domestic violence ranges in form and severity. It may be covert. Examples include neglect or manipulation. Domestic violence may be overt, such as physical assault or verbal abuse.

Most abusers use domestic violence to dominate and control a victim.

Many victims do not or cannot report their abuse. The silence surrounding domestic violence enables abusers to continue without consequence.

Legal definition of domestic violence and abuse in California

California Family Code Section 6203 states domestic violence includes the following.

1. To intentionally or recklessly cause or attempt to cause bodily injury.
2. Sexual assault.
3. To place a person in reasonable apprehension of imminent serious bodily injury to that person or to another.
4. To engage in any behavior that has been or could be enjoined under Section 6320.

Abuse is not limited to the actual infliction of physical injury or assault.

However, Family Code Section 6320 takes that much further.

Family Code 6320 expands the definition of domestic violence

Family Code 6320 has five parts to it.

This is generally what it takes to get a domestic violence restraining order in California

(a) The court may issue an ex parte order enjoining a party from molesting, attacking, striking, stalking, threatening, sexually assaulting, battering, credibly impersonating as described in Section 528.5 of the Penal Code, falsely personating as described in Section 529 of the Penal Code, harassing, telephoning, including, but not limited to, making annoying telephone calls as described in Section 653m of the Penal Code, destroying personal property, contacting, either directly or indirectly, by mail or otherwise, coming within a specified distance of, or disturbing the peace of the other party, and, in the discretion of the court, on a showing of good cause, of other named family or household members.

Part two takes it further and includes protection of animals

(b) On a showing of good cause, the court may include in a protective order a grant to the petitioner of the exclusive care, possession, or control of any animal owned, possessed, leased, kept, or held by either the petitioner or the respondent or a minor child residing in the residence or household of either the petitioner or the respondent. The court may order the respondent to stay away from the animal and forbid the respondent from taking, transferring, encumbering, concealing, molesting, attacking, striking, threatening, harming, or otherwise disposing of the animal.

What is intentionally or recklessly disturbing the peace of another for it to become domestic violence?

(c) As used in this subdivision (a), "disturbing the peace of the other party" refers to conduct that, based on the totality of the circumstances, destroys the mental or emotional calm of the other party. This conduct may be committed directly or indirectly, including through the use of a third party, and by any method or through any means including, but not limited to, telephone, online accounts, text messages, internet-connected devices, or other electronic technologies. This conduct includes, but is not limited to, coercive control, which is a pattern of behavior that in purpose or effect unreasonably interferes with a person's free will and personal liberty. Examples of coercive control include, but are not limited to, unreasonably engaging in any of the following:

And the following is the game-changer in California that is part of coercive control

This is what comes after the above in the code.

(1) Isolating the other party from friends, relatives, or other sources of support.

(2) Depriving the other party of basic necessities.

(3) Controlling, regulating, or monitoring the other party's movements, communications, daily behavior, finances, economic resources, or access to services.

(4) Compelling the other party by force, threat of force, or intimidation, including threats based on actual or suspected immigration status, to engage in conduct from which the other party has a right to abstain or to abstain from conduct in which the other party has a right to engage.

California law also states what it listed above is not the limits of remedies available

(d) This section does not limit any remedies available under this act or any other provision of law.

Domestic violence protections apply to specific relationships

California Family Code Section 6211 states that domestic violence is abuse perpetrated against:

1. A spouse or former spouse.
2. A cohabitant or former cohabitant, as defined in Section 6209.
3. A person with whom the respondent is having or has had a dating or engagement relationship.
4. A person with whom the respondent has had a child, where the presumption applies that the male parent is the father of the child of the female parent under the Uniform Parentage Act (Part 3 (commencing with Section 7600) of Division 12).
5. A child of a party or a child who is the subject of an action under the Uniform Parentage Act, where the presumption applies that the male parent is the father of the child to be protected.
6. Any other person related by consanguinity or affinity within the second degree.

Types of domestic violence

Domestic violence can involve various parties, tactics, and consequences. Abusers dominate and control a victim through abuse.

Physical domestic violence

California Family Code Section 6203 defines physical abuse as someone intentionally or recklessly causing or attempting to injure someone.

Physical also abuse includes starvation, sleep deprivation, and denial of medical treatment.

Physical abuse that does not cause pain, bruising or injury is still domestic violence.

Sexual abuse

Some abusers use sexual activity to degrade another person.

Sexual abuse includes sex trafficking, physically harming someone during sex, sabotaging a partner's birth control, and distributing explicit pictures without consent.

Non-physical domestic violence

Domestic violence includes covert forms of abuse.

1. Emotional abuse

Emotional abuse accompanies physical abuse. It includes harassment such as stalking, isolation, humiliation, and intimidation.

2. Verbal abuse

Verbally abusive relationships include derogatory statements (name-calling), degrading comments, threats, blaming, and false accusations by the abuser.

3. Financial abuse

Financial abuse includes ruining the victim's credit score, preventing them from working, and withholding money. Financial abusers exert a coercive control over spending. If married, they limit their spouse's access to money.

4. Technological abuse

California Penal Code Section 646.9(e) punishes stalking and harassment through an "electronic communication device."

Examples of technological abuse include controlling social media accounts, monitoring through G.P.S. tracking, and incessant text messaging.

What are the signs of domestic violence?

1. Domestic violence is more than physical abuse. It takes several forms, such as emotional or financial abuse.
2. Domestic violence is not always apparent. Warning signs in cases of physical abuse can even be subtle.
3. Victims may not recognize their partners or household members are abusive or violent.

Anyone can be an abuse victim

There is no typical profile. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, domestic violence can happen between married people, people living together, and even people living apart.

There are many signs or indications of domestic violence

Whether it is physical abuse or online harassment, abusers often display a pattern of controlling behavior.

We will discuss this later in this guide, including the imbalance between the abuser and the victim.

You will learn it is all about power and control. You will recognize those dynamics underscore many patterns of abuse or violence.

An abuser's controlling behavior takes many forms

An abuser is often possessive or extremely jealous. The abuser deprives the victim of their agency or independence. They can discourage their victims from going to school, work, or visiting friends and family.

Some abusers dictate what their victims can wear or when they can use their credit cards.

Abusers spy using social media. They dictate with whom their victims can and cannot be friends on Facebook or Instagram.

Abusers often blame the victim for the abuse

1. Abusers excessively criticize their victims. They unfairly blame the victim for the abusive behavior.
2. Some will deliberately humiliate their partners or ex-partners in front of children, friends, or co-workers.
3. Most abusers belittle, demean, and direct relentless insults at their partners.

Abusers justify their abuse

1. An abuser often blames his or her victim for anything wrong that happens, no matter the cause.
2. He or she will likely find an external justification for their abusive behavior, such as stress or a bad day at work.

Abusers will deny or minimize the existence or impacts of their abuse

1. Between periods of abuse, they may show restraint.
2. They may act charming or polite in public settings to hide the ill effects of the abusive relationship.
3. They may even apologize for past abuse, promising to change their habits only to repeat the cycle of violence.

Some signs of domestic violence are more overt

These overt signs include:

1. Animal cruelty, verbal threats, forced sex, and destruction of property.
2. Some abusers will control access to birth control or sabotage contraceptives.
3. Physical threats and attacks are a common form of domestic violence.
4. Some abusers may brandish weapons or otherwise intimidate their victims.

The victim's actions or inactions show the abuse

Victims of physical abuse could display unexplained injuries, wear clothes that mask those injuries, or show sudden personality changes.

When did domestic violence become a crime in the United States?

Early attempts to criminalize domestic violence

States began rescinding the rights of men to beat their wives in the 1870's.

"Wife beating" was made illegal in all American states by 1920.

Domestic violence was treated as a private family matter for decades following these laws.

The Violence Against Women Act (V.A.W.A.) was a turning point

Most abusers were not punished for their abuse due to America's indifferent response to domestic violence.

A new feminist movement in the 1960's and 1970's renewed public focus on the rampant domestic and family violence.

Congress passed V.A.W.A. in 1994. This federal law improved legal and community-based responses to intimate partner violence, stalking, and sexual assault.

The Act included several measures, such as:

• Federal prosecution of interstate domestic violence crimes.
• Federal interstate enforcement for protection orders.
• Community-coordinated responses that brought together the criminal legal system, social services system, and the nonprofit sector.

What are the criminal consequences and punishments for domestic violence?

• In 2018, California had 166,890 arrests for Domestic Violence, according to the California Department of Justice.
• In 2019, the total dipped slightly to 161,123. The numbers are staggering, the reality, sobering.

What is being done to curb this disturbing rise in domestic violence, and what happens to perpetrators?

The anatomy of a criminal prosecution for domestic violence

Report, investigation and/or arrest

Most Domestic violence cases originate with a call to police from a victim, witness, or even the perpetrator themselves.

• Almost every law enforcement agency in California has a policy, written or unwritten, when responding to a domestic violence call, to determine a primary aggressor and arrest that person, even if neither party wants an arrest to happen.
• Often, a victim will call just to remove the other party, or "keep the peace," but the officers will likely make an arrest if they have any evidence of violence.
• An arrest is likely to occur where any party has visible injuries, but such injuries are not required.
• Probable cause for arrest in a domestic violence incident can be as simple as non-consensual touching of another in a rude, insolent or angry manner, and need not cause injury.

"The slightest touching can be enough to commit a battery if it is done in a rude or angry way. . . The touching does not have to cause pain or injury of any kind." This is from California Criminal Jury Instructions in 2020.

Because California requires that an arrest for a misdemeanor must have been committed in the officer's presence, most domestic violence arrests are booked as felonies, causing increased bail amounts and serious repercussions for the arrestee later, whether convicted or not.

Emergency criminal protective orders

If a reporting party tells law enforcement they have a continued fear the arrestee may return and harm them, Officers can apply for an Emergency Protective Order (EPO) from a Judge at the time of a domestic violence arrest.

An officer can call a judge and present facts that establish the protected party is in fear of immediate and present danger of violence, abuse or stalking.

EPOs can be issued electronically, but only last for five court or seven calendar days.

An EPO can prohibit contact with protected parties, prevent owning possessing or receiving a firearm, and can even provide "kick out" orders prohibited the restrained party from returning home if the protected party lives there.

The defendant likely has to post bail

At the time of writing in October of 2020, California is facing another referendum to eliminate the cash bail system.

The bail schedule for each county provides for dollar amounts to be posted to secure release from jail pending court.

Most southern California counties set bail for domestic violence under California Penal Code 273.5 (corporal injury to spouse or significant other) for at least $50,000.

Bail bondsman can provide a bond for the bail amount, usually charging a premium ranging from six to ten percent of the total bail amount.

Prosecutorial review for filing

After an officer arrests a suspect for domestic violence, or completes his investigation if no arrest, he will draft his report and send it to the local prosecutor. This may be a District Attorney or City Attorney.

The prosecutor will review the case to determine if they have sufficient evidence to prove a case beyond a reasonable doubt (a high legal standard).

Independent witnesses, visible injuries, medical records and pictures documenting injuries are all considerations for filing a domestic violence case.

A victim's willingness to testify against a spouse or intimate partner may be a consideration, but ultimately the decision to file criminal charges rests solely with the prosecuting agency, and cases are routinely filed against the wishes of the victim.

Common charges for domestic violence

Domestic violence charges are defined by the relationship of the parties, but the most common charges are Penal Code 273.5(a), which is willful infliction of corporal injury on a spouse or cohabitant resulting in a traumatic condition, and 243(e)(1), battery against a spouse or cohabitant.

• 273.5(a) requires actual injury, and can be filed as a felony, carrying a maximum term of 3 years in prison without enhancements.
• 243(e)(1) requires no injury.

Other charges, such as rape, criminal threats, and disabling of a phone to prevent report of abuse can also fall under the rubric of domestic violence prosecutions.

The arraignment process

An arraignment is the initial court proceeding in any criminal case, where a defendant is advised of charges against them, and the defendant enters a plea of guilty or not guilty. The court may also address bail.

The prosecutor often asks for a Criminal Protective Order (CPO)

A CPO is issued on showing "good cause" and can order a defendant to:

• Have no contact with named victim and/or protected parties;
• Not own or possess firearms or ammunition;
• Turn in any guns in his/her possession;
• May have electronic monitoring placed on his/her person;
• Not come within a specified distance of the protected parties'
• May not dispose of or harm animals;
• Might be allowed peaceful contact ONLY for the safe exchange of children (boxes 16 a. and b. of the order)
• The victim may record the defendant; and
• The defendant may be ordered to stay away from particular locations.

CPOs are in effect the entire case, and may be incorporated as conditions of probation if/when the defendant is sentenced.

Negotiations between prosecutors and defense

Negotiations in a criminal domestic violence case typically occur after the arraignment at a future hearing variously called a felony disposition conference (FDC), a Trial Readiness Conference (TRC), or a pretrial conference (PT).

• These hearings are normally conducted in the judge's chambers if a felony, or at counsel table if a misdemeanor.
• The negotiations are not typically open for public view. The attorneys will discuss the facts, the criminal history of the defendant (if any), and potential plea agreements, called "plea bargaining."
• These matters may be continued to conduct additional discovery, the parties may confirm the matter for trial or preliminary exam, or they may resolve the case with a plea deal and enter a plea that day.
• Typically, the court will set a future date for felony sentencing, but can conduct immediate sentencing in misdemeanors at the defendant's request.

Preliminary examinations or trials

In a felony case, if a matter cannot be resolved by a plea agreement, the parties will confirm a preliminary examination date, wherein the prosecutor must introduce evidence that a crime has been committed, and the defendant is the party that committed that crime.

• There is no jury at these hearings, and the judge need find only probable cause or a strong suspicion of the truth of the charges.
• A prosecutor can have law enforcement testify as to the victim's statement at a preliminary examination, but cannot do this at trial.
• Most prosecutors prefer the victim testify at preliminary exams to familiarize them with the process and evaluate their testimony without a jury present.

Misdemeanors do not have preliminary examinations and a trial will be set if they case cannot be resolved by plea bargain or dismissal.

California affords every criminal defendant facing custody the right to a jury trial

In a domestic violence case, whether misdemeanor or felony, the prosecution will want to have the victim testify to establish their case.

A victim may be allowed a support person to accompany them on the stand. It is not uncommon for victims to be reluctant to testify and failure of a victim to testify, where there is no other independent evidence or witnesses of the crime, can cause the prosecution to dismiss a case if they cannot prove it beyond a reasonable doubt.

Prosecutors can consider the wishes of a victim about the disposition of a case, but do not represent the victim, and need not argue the position of a victim if they disagree.

Sentencing

If a defendant is found guilty, either by plea or trial, the court will set a date for sentencing.

• The defendant's counsel, the defendant, the prosecutor, and the victim typically all address the court as to their opinion of an appropriate sentence.
• The victim of a crime may address the court under Marsy's Law in California.
• A 273.5(a) charge is a "wobbler", meaning at the prosecutor's discretion, it can be filed as a misdemeanor (up to a year in jail) or felony (up to 3 years in State Prison).
• A felony fine can be up to $10,000.
• A judge or prosecutor can reduce the charge from a felony at any time both before and after a plea. A 273.5(a) charge can also be a "Strike" felony in California if there was great bodily injury, and that would prevent a reduction to a misdemeanor.
• Most felony domestic violence sentences include jail or prison terms, but imposition of jail time is not legally required.
• A 243(e)(1) sentence can carry up to a year in jail, a $1,000 fine, and is a misdemeanor.

Any conviction for domestic violence, felony or misdemeanor, where probation is granted, requires a mandatory 52-week Domestic Violence Rehabilitation Program.

Realistically, many first-offense domestic violence cases without significant injuries are resolved without jail, but do require the program. With prior convictions or injuries, prosecutors will usually seek jail or prison sentences.

The defendant may be ordered to pay up to a $5,000 payment to a battered woman's shelter and may be ordered to reimburse the victim for reasonable costs of counseling and other reasonable expenses the court finds result from the defendant's offense.

There is also a Victim Compensation Board in California that provides financial assistance to victims of violent crimes.

Immigration status

An immigrant convicted of domestic violence could lose their legal immigration status, be deported, or permanently banned from entering the United States again.

Civil damages for domestic violence

Civil lawsuits should make a victim or the victim's family whole through compensation for losses, such as pain and suffering.

A domestic violence victim could sue without the abuser having a criminal charge or conviction for the offense.

Statute of limitations

As of the date of this guide in 2020, California Code of Civil Procedure 340.15 states:

"(a) In any civil action for recovery of damages suffered as a result of domestic violence, the time for commencement of the action shall be the later of the following:

(1) Within three years from the date of the last act of domestic violence by the defendant against the plaintiff.

(2) Within three years from the date the plaintiff discovers or reasonably should have discovered that an injury or illness resulted from an act of domestic violence by the defendant against the plaintiff.

(b) As used in this section, "domestic violence" has the same meaning as defined in Section 6211 of the Family Code."

Common civil damages awarded to victims

A victim needs to prove liability by a preponderance of the evidence. That the jury believes the claim is more likely to be true than false.

A victim could collect monetary compensation to cover medical bills, emotional distress, pain and suffering and similar injuries.

Punitive damages in appropriate cases

The court imposes punitive damages to punish the defendant and deter the defendant and others from repeating the same behavior.

California Civil Code 3294 permits trial courts to award punitive damages in personal injury cases where the plaintiff proves "by clear and convincing evidence that the defendant has been guilty of oppression, fraud, or malice…" A willful act of domestic violence likely qualifies.

What are National and California domestic violence hotlines?

A domestic violence victim in imminent danger should call 9-1-1.

A victim or concerned loved one could call a national or local outline to get help.

National Hotline

National Domestic Violence Hotline 1-800-799-SAFE (7233)

California Hotlines

1. Su Casa - (562) 402-4888
2. Human Options - (877) 854-3594
3. Los Angeles County Domestic Violence Hotline - (800) 978-3600
4. Jenesse Center Crisis Hotline -(800) 479-7328
5. Rainbow Services - (310) 547-9343
6. Coalition to Abolish Slavery & Trafficking - (888) 539-2373
7. East L.A. Women's Center - (800) 585-6231
8. Peace Over Violence - (310) 281-2822
9. Strength United - (818) 886-0453 or (661) 253-0258
10. Center for the Pacific Asian Family - (800) 339-3940
11. Sojourn - (310) 264-6644
12. Haven Hills - (818) 887-6589
13. 1736 Family Crisis Center - (213) 745-6434
14. Laura's House - (949) 498-1511
15. Interval House - (562) 594-4555
16. Women Transitional Living - (714) 992-1931

List of the top domestic violence shelters in California

Safe housing is often an obstacle to victims exiting an abusive relationship.

Numerous organizations around California provide housing assistance and safe spaces to domestic violence survivors.

Most shelters and safe housing programs are short-term, no-cost, confidential, and equipped to provide onsite childcare and transportation.

Below is a list of some well-known organizations a survivor could contact for help.

Southern California

1. Interval House (Seal Beach) — (562) 594-4555
2. Su Casa Ending Domestic Violence (Long Beach) — (562) 402-4888
3. Women's Resource Center (Oceanside) — (760) 757-3500

Central California

1. Haven Women's Center of Stanislaus (Modesto) — (209) 254-4331
2. Stand Strong (San Luis Obispo) — (805) 781-6400
3. Kings Community Action Organization (Hanford) — (877) 727-3225

Northern California

1. My Sister's House (Sacramento) — (916) 428-3271
2. A Safe Place (Oakland) — (510) 536-7233
3. One Safe Place (Redding) — (530) 244-0117

Here is an extensive list of shelters by county.

List of the top domestic violence support groups in California

The California Partnership to End Domestic Violence maintains an extensive list of organizations providing support groups.

Below are some of the top support groups by region.

Southern California

1. 1736 Family Crisis Center (Los Angeles) — (213) 745-6434
2. Women's Resource Center (Oceanside) - (760) 757-3500
3. Alternatives to Domestic Violence (Riverside) — (951) 683-0829

Central California

1. Monterey County Rape Crisis Center (Monterey) — (831) 375-4357
2. Marjaree Mason Center, Inc.(Fresno) — (559) 233-4357
3. Alliance Against Family Violence and Sexual Assault (Bakersfield) — (661) 327-1091

Northern California

1. DeafHope (Oakland) — (510) 735-8553
2. Shelter Against Violent Environments/S.A.V.E. (Fremont) — (510) 794-6055
3. The Resource Connection (San Andreas) — (209) 754-2000

Nationwide support groups

The National Center on Domestic Violence, Trauma, and Mental Health maintain a list of reputable domestic violence support groups.

Some of the top national support groups include:

1. Asian Pacific Institute on Gender-Based Violence (Oakland) — (415) 568-3315
2. Community United Against Violence (San Francisco) — (415) 777-5500
3. National Latino Alliance for the Elimination of Domestic Violence (New York) — (646) 672-1404

How does domestic violence affect the community?

This section describes how domestic violence negatively affects American communities.

Community costs of domestic violence

Communities nationwide spend enormously to provide domestic violence resources.

These costs include labor and financial investments from law enforcement, the judiciary, social services, school administrators, domestic violence advocates, medical personnel, and volunteers required to respond to children and families suffering from domestic violence.

One study pins the annual cost of childhood exposure to domestic violence as $55 billion to the U.S. government alone.

A national study concluded that domestic violence causes a productivity net loss annually of $1.14 billion and 7.9 million workdays.

Domestic violence inflates crime rates

A community's crime rates can affect its property value, its residents' health, and push it into decay.

Domestic violence accounts for about 20% of all violent crime.

Family members, friends, neighbors, law enforcement responders, and bystanders make up 20% of domestic violence-related homicides.

Public health implications of domestic violence

Domestic violence affects the rate of disease and mental illness in many communities.

Domestic abuse correlates with a higher rate of depression and suicidal behavior.

Intimate partner violence increases a victim's risk of contracting H.I.V. or another sexually transmitted infection.

What is the Duluth Model?

The Duluth Model started as part of the Domestic Abuse Intervention Programs (DAIP) in Duluth, Minnesota.

These programs formed in 1980 to reform the criminal justice system's response to domestic violence.

Law enforcement rarely arrested domestic violence abusers at the time.

Victims had few options other than pressing criminal charges, suffering the abuse, or fleeing from their abuser.

DAIP organizers developed and proposed new domestic violence interventions for the criminal justice system to test.

The test results showed some abusers could stop abusing victims after participating in the DAIP's intervention program.

Eleven community agencies formally came together to improve batterer intervention and victim support.

This joint endeavor became known as The Duluth Model

The Duluth Model influences national and state-level policies to protect victims and provide opportunities for abusers to take accountability and change.

Research shows 68% of men who undergo The Duluth Model's program participant did not re-enter the criminal justice system over eight years.

The Duluth Model prioritizes victims' experiences when creating their curriculums and making policy recommendations to the civil and criminal justice system.

Its classes challenge abusers' beliefs about gender roles, relationships, and social norms within a respectful but critical environment.

Facilitators teach participants non-controlling and nonviolent alternatives to abuse. The Duluth Model confronts societal conditions, such as male privilege, that entitle men to use power and control tactics over women.

The mission of DAIP is to end violence against women and their families. Over 4,000 communities in all 50 states and over 26 countries have used The Duluth Model.

What is the Power and Control Wheel?

The National Center on Domestic and Sexual Violence produced and distributed the wheel starting in the 1980's to educate the public about various domestic violence forms.

The outer ring is labeled domestic and physical violence because these violent forms of abuse are reinforced by more subtle abuse.

The wheel's center is labeled "power and control" because most perpetrators use various forms of abuse to dominate their partner.

An abuser often utilizes a pattern of subtle and overt forms of abuse to maintain an imbalance of power in their favor.

A modified version of the wheel, which is our interpretation of it and in a simpler form, is below.

Here is a link to a page that explains the Power and Control Wheel in videos.

What is the cycle of domestic violence, and how do you break it?

Behaviors in a domestic violence relationship typically repeat themselves in a cycle.

This section will explain how an abuser dominates and controls their victim through a cycle of domestic violence.

There are three stages in the cycle of domestic violence

Incidents of abuse follow a period of building tension. A victim may feel like they are "walking on eggshells" around their abusive partner.

This period could last hours or months. The longer this period lasts, the more tension will build.

The tension will eventually break and result in an abusive incident. The abuse that occurs varies in form but has the same intention to dominate and control the victim.

The frequency and cruelty of domestic violence in a relationship generally increase.

An abuser might apologize, buy gifts, and act affectionately towards the victim after the abuse. The behavior is known as the honeymoon phase of the cycle.

An abuser often manipulates the victim during the honeymoon phase by promising to change or stop the abuse.

A buildup of tension follows the honeymoon phase of an abusive relationship. This cycle will continue to repeat unless there is intervention.

Ending the cycle of abuse

Most abusers will not change their violent behaviors. A victim must end the relationship to stop the cycle.

A victim could develop a safety plan with a trusted loved one, therapist, or advocate to start the exiting process.