How to Know if You're a Domestic Abuse Victim

Your partner may be mistreating you, but you only have grounds to take legal action if this person has violated the law. You should learn what constitutes crimes of domestic abuse so that you can demand adequate protection against future physical or emotional assaults.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. 
   Battery

   Recognise battery. This form of domestic abuse can include being pushed, hit, spat upon, struck by a thrown object or hit with a dangerous or deadly weapon. It also covers rape or molestation.

2. 
   Abuse victim

   Learn the definition for assault. This form of domestic abuse is usually defined as an overt act that can include a physical attack, placing you in fear of imminent battery, verbal intimidation and and threats of bodily harm.

3. 
   Emotional abuse

   Remember that your partner doesn't have to touch you to abuse you.
   Domestic abuse can be emotional, and include: name calling, mockery, controling behavior and behavior that lowers your self esteem. Some examples of control include the abuser rendering you totally dependent for financial support. Isolation is another form of abuse. If the abuser determines who you can see or doesn't allow you to go out in public, and makes you account for your time.

4. 
   Men are victims, too.

   Be aware that the abuser must be a spouse, a former spouse, a relative, someone you are in or were in a “significant dating relationship” with, or someone that you are living with or previously have lived with. Check your state laws for the legal definition of “significant dating relationship.”

Tips & Warnings

• Seek the advice of an attorney if possible.
• Check your community resources to see if there is a law library available to you.
• Unless you know your state's domestic abuse laws, do not attempt to file charges against the alleged abuser, except in an emergency situation. To do so for an ongoing and non-emergency type of problem could result in more frequent and more serious abuse.
• Once you start legal action, do not let the defendant (abuser) talk you out of testifying. The abuse will most likely worsen and you'll regret dropping the charges.

[Insightful]

on 5/20/2008 Thanks, Welch! This subject was one of my pet peeves during my career. I enjoy writing about it.

[Insightful]

on 3/15/2008 bake4u,
You're welcome, and thank you, too!
"Publishing booklets to distribute at department of human resources or other informative areas" is a great idea.

[bake4u]

on 3/15/2008 excellent info about domestic abuse, this day in time it is looked at alot differently than back in the 70's and 80's how about publishing booklets to distribute at department of human resources or other informative areas to make accessable to people who use this tool and wake up, i know i used to be there wish the help of today would have been there thank you

[Insightful]

on 1/27/2008 Thank you very much, grouch! That was a great compliment. I'll do my best in continuing to set the facts out there.

[grouch]

on 1/26/2008 Thanks for all the tips. A person who is being abused sometimes can not see it. They try to reason it. You did a wonderful job setting the facts out there for all to see.