What is Domestic Violence?
Domestic violence (intimate partner violence, relationship abuse) is a pattern of assaultive, coercive, dominating, and punishing behaviors perpetrated by one intimate partner to another.
Abusers use a variety of tactics, not just physical violence, to control a victim’s behavior. Tactics can include physical, sexual, and psychological attacks, as well as economic coercion.
Washington State defines domestic violence in RCW 26.50 as:
This definition guides the police and courts in their actions. In addition to this, SafePlace’s definition recognizes that physical violence does not always need to occur for abuse to be present. Abuse can be subtle, and emotional abuse can have long-term damage to a person.
Abusers use a variety of tactics, not just physical violence, to control a victim’s behavior. Tactics can include physical, sexual, and psychological attacks, as well as economic coercion.
Washington State defines domestic violence in RCW 26.50 as:
- Physical harm, bodily injury, assault, or the infliction of fear of imminent physical harm, bodily injury or assault, between family or household members.
- Sexual assault of one family or household member by another; or
- Stalking as defined in RCW 9A.46.110 of one family or household member by another family or household member.
This definition guides the police and courts in their actions. In addition to this, SafePlace’s definition recognizes that physical violence does not always need to occur for abuse to be present. Abuse can be subtle, and emotional abuse can have long-term damage to a person.
