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What is Domestic Violence?

Abusive Behaviors:
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- Signs for Aggressors

Effects of Domestic Violence on Children

Why Victims Stay

Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault Victim Guide

Domestic Violence Restraining Orders

North County Family Violence Prevention Center (NCFVPC)

Personalized Safety Plan

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Services - Domestic Violence Unit

What is Domestic Violence?

Domestic Violence is a pattern of behavior that adults and adolescents use to establish power and control over another person, through fear and intimidation. It often includes the threat or use of violence, occurring in multiple episodes over the course of the relationship, and includes but is not limited to: emotional, economic, psychological, and sexual abuse, using children and pets, threats, intimidation, isolation, and a variety of other abusive behaviors.

Battering usually escalates over time. It often begins with behaviors like threats, name calling, violence within the partner's presence (such as punching a fist through a wall), and/or damage to objects or pets. It may escalate to restraining, pushing, slapping, and/or pinching. The battering may include punching, kicking, biting, sexual assault, tripping, and throwing. Finally, it may become life threatening with serious behaviors such as strangulation (choking), breaking bones, the use of weapons, and can result in death.

California Penal Code 13700 defines Abuse and Domestic Violence as:

"Abuse" means intentionally or recklessly causing or attempting to cause bodily injury, or placing another person in reasonable apprehension of imminent serious bodily injury to himself or herself, or another.

"Domestic Violence" means abuse committed against an adult or a minor who is a spouse, former spouse, cohabitant, former cohabitant, or person with whom the suspect has had a child or is having or has had a dating or engagement relationship. For purposes of this subdivision, "cohabitant" means two unrelated adult persons living together for a substantial period of time, resulting in some permanency of relationship. Factors that may determine whether persons are cohabiting include, but are not limited to, (1) sexual relations between the parties while sharing the same living quarters, (2) sharing of income or expenses, (3) joint use or ownership of property, (4) whether the parties hold themselves out as husband and wife, (5) the continuity of the relationship, and (6) the length of the relationship.