What is Domestic Violence?

Domestic violence is a pattern of physical, emotional, and coercive behaviors that one family member uses to exercise power and control over another. Most perpetrators of abuse and battering are: a spouse, ex-spouse, boyfriend, ex-boyfriend, girlfriend, ex-girlfriend or lover. In 92% of the reported cases of domestic violence, victims of abuse are women and children. The abuse can be physical, sexual, verbal, emotional, and financial.