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:
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.
