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Definition
Indicators of Abuse
Is It A Crime?
Who Are the Victims?
Cycle of
Violence
Who's Fault Is It?
Where Can Victims Seek Refuge?
What Legal Action Can Victims Take?
What Should Victims Do If They're In
Danger?
What If Victims Aren't Sure What They Should Do?
How Can Victims Take Their First Steps to Freedom
From Abuse?
Safety Tips
Download Domestic Violence
Wheels
Developed by Domestic Abuse
Intervention Project. (Duluth, MN)
Power and Control Wheel*
Equality Wheel*
Other adaptations of
Power and Control Wheel - @ National Center on Domestic Violence and
Sexual Violence.
*You will require Adobe
Acrobat Reader to access these files.
Click below for free download.
DEFINITION
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Domestic violence may be defined as
the physical, sexual or emotional abuse of one household or family member by
another.
Physical Abuse |
Pushing, shoving, punching and
choking |
Sexual Abuse |
Forcing unwanted sexual acts, rape
and incest |
Emotional Abuse |
Threats, insults and forced
humiliating acts |
Isolation |
Preventing contact with family and
friends and extreme jealousy |
Intimidation |
Punching walls, destroying things and
harming pets |
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Knowingly causes or attempts to cause physical harm to
a family or household member;
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Recklessly causes serious physical harm to a family or
household member;
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By threat of force, knowingly causes a family or
household member to believe that the offender will cause imminent physical
harm.
WHO ARE THE VICTIMS?
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Domestic violence cuts across the
lines of race, gender, culture, nationality, sexual orientation, class and
age. Anyone can become a victim of domestic violence. However, the Bureau of
Justice Statistics reports (2001) that 85% of victims of intimate partner
violence are women, and that women ages 16-24 are at the highest risk of
being affected by intimate partner violence (1998).
CYCLE OF VIOLENCE
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Many victims
experience a cycle of abuse in three phrases.
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In phase one, tension builds up in the relationship.
There is a denial of impending violence.
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In phase two, violence occurs. The abuser denies
responsibility.
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In phase three, often called “the honeymoon phase,” the
abuser denies the severity of the abuse and promises that it won’t happen
again.
The cycle is repeated, over and
over. But for some victims, the violence doesn’t follow this pattern.
WHOSE
FAULT IS IT?
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Domestic violence is a pattern of
behavior.
Only the abuser can control that
behavior.
Violence is not the victim’s fault.
WHERE CAN
VICTIMS SEEK REFUGE?
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In order to survive, a victim of
domestic violence has developed incredible survival skills. At some point in
time, she will know when she must take action to protect herself, and her
children as well. Even if the abuser doesn’t attack the children, they are
likely to be witnesses to the violence, and it will impact their lives.
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Domestic violence victims can seek help from a domestic
violence shelter. Throughout Ohio there are shelters, safe houses and
non-residential programs, all designed to help victims and their children.
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Domestic violence shelters have hotlines that accept
crisis calls 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If a victim doesn’t need
to seek shelter, she may want to ask about legal services, counseling or
other support services.
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Aside from providing living space away from abusers,
shelters provide support services and legal advocacy. Victims have the
opportunity to know that they are safe from harm. Victims have time to
re-group and begin to examine their options for the future. Because
victims often leave home with only bare necessities, shelters may provide
extra clothing and toiletries. When victims leave, shelters may provide
them with household items if they’re starting over.
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Shelters may also provide special programs for
children, to help them deal with the changes taking place in their lives.
Some shelters even arrange for foster care for family pets.
WHAT LEGAL
ACTION CAN VICTIMS TAKE? Back
to top
Victims may file charges against
their abusers. Victims may apply for protection orders. Legal advocates at
shelters and victim advocates at prosecutors’ offices are there to help.
WHAT SHOULD VICTIMS
DO IF THEY’RE IN DANGER?
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If your life or the lives of your
children are in immediate danger, call 911. If you’re not in immediate
danger, you may want to call your nearest domestic violence shelter. To
connect with your nearest shelter, call the National Domestic Violence
Hotline (800 799-7233). Weekdays during business hours you could call ACTION
OHIO (888 622-9315) for referral.
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Victims might confide in a family member or a friend.
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Victims might contact a community resource/referral
agency.
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Victims might talk with a medical or mental health
professional or a dentist.
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Victims could call their local domestic violence
shelter and express their concerns and ask questions.
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Weekdays during business hours you could call ACTION
OHIO (888 622-9315) for resource information and referral.
HOW CAN VICTIMS TAKE THEIR
FIRST STEPS TO FREEDOM FROM ABUSE?
If you are a domestic violence
victim, you understand the danger that you face every day. Breaking free
will require you to create a safety plan, in order to minimize your risks
when you know it’s time to leave.
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Here
are some ideas that may help: Back
to top
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Determine the safest route out of your home.
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Pack a bag with necessities and hide it.
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Develop a way to signal a neighbor or friend nearby
if/when you need help.
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Gather important family papers (driver’s license, birth
certificate/s, medical records and social security card/s) and place them
in a secret place.
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Save and hide small amounts of money over time.
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Consider clothing (and toys for the kids) you would
need to take if/when you leave.
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