Domestic Violence
Reporting an Incident | How to Help a Friend | Facts about Domestic Violence |What is Domestic Violence?
| Resources National Coalition Against Domestic Violence Oakland County Coordinating Council Against Domestic Violence The Michigan Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence (MCADSV) |
Domestic violence is a pattern of assaultive and coercive behaviors that adults or adolescents use against their current or former intimate partners. Domestic violence occurs in intimate relationships where the perpetrator and the victim are currently or previously have been dating, living together, married or divorced. They might have children in common or not. (Source: A Framework for Understanding the Nature and Dynamics of Domestic Violence, Missouri Coalition Against Domestic Violence)
According to Michigan law (MCL 750.81), domestic violence is punishable to up to two years in prison.
The following are questions to ask about your relationship.
Does your partner:
- Embarrass you with bad names and put-downs?
- Look at you or act in ways that scare you?
- Control what you do, who you see or talk to, or where you go?
- Stop you from seeing or talking to friends or family?
- Take your money, make you ask for money, or refuse to give you money?
- Make all the decisions?
- Tell you you’re a bad parent or threaten to take away or hurt your children?
- Act like the abuse is not a big deal, is your fault, or even deny doing it?
- Destroy your property or threaten to kill your pets?
- Intimidate you with guns, knives, or other weapons?
- Shove you, slap you or hit you?
- Force you to drop charges?
- Threaten to commit suicide?
- Threaten to kill you?
If you checked even one, you may be in an abusive relationship. (Source: National Domestic Violence Hotline )