Chapter 3
Domestic Violence
Domestic Violence is violence committed by a current or former spouse or intimate partner. It also covers other individuals living in the household who are violent toward a person's spouse, partner, or children.
Behavioral Examples:
Examples of abusive behaviors are many of the same as in dating violence and can include, but are not limited to:
- Physically inflicting pain or hurt in any way
- Constant belittling or put-downs, making the victim feel bad about themselves
- Extreme jealousy or insecurity
- Explosive temper
- Possessiveness
- Isolation from other family members and/or friends
- Making false accusations toward the victim
- Telling the victim what they can and cannot do
- Controlling how all of the family income is spent
Domestic violence includes crimes of violence committed against a victim by: (i) a current or former spouse or intimate partner of the victim; (ii) a person with whom the victim shares a child; (iii) a person who is or has cohabited with the victim as a spouse; (iv) a person similarly situated to a spouse of the victim; or (v) any other person (adult or child) against whom the victim is protected under Pennsylvania’s domestic and family violence laws.
It is important to recognize that emotional, verbal, and economic abuse are part of the web of domestic violence and can exist without the presence of physical abuse.
For information about Pennsylvania state laws and protections related to domestic violence, visit the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence.