Domestic Violence is therefore defined as any way, shape or form of physical, psychological, emotional or sexual violation which takes place between two people who are in some way connected through a domestic bond. This setting often comprises of spouses, ex-spouses, cohabitant partners, dating or intimate partners, or a family member. There is no one universally accepted legal definition of domestic violence and the laws of each state can be rather different, although most of them define the increasingly common pattern of abuse and control. Such behaviors may include the use of force right up to and including sexual attack, verbal threats and abuse, verbally aggressive behavior, sexual harassment, stalking and threatening behaviors.

In many jurisdictions, domestic violence is also understood as economic abuse, that is, when one partner controls all the money and makes the other person dependent on him/ her. Domestic violence is considered as a criminal act in most legal systems with specific laws that defines what is prohibited regarding such acts as well as the consequences that the offenders face once they are convicted of such acts. It is important to note that the degree of the offense and the punishment attached to such an offense for a specific offender will depend on characteristics of the offense, substance abuse histories, previous history of violence, and the effects on the victim.

The domestic violence cases can be quite complicated and come along with several legal questions and concerns which may entail criminal matters, protection orders, and matters bordering on child custody among others.

Physical Abuse as Domestic Violence

Physical abuse without a doubt is one of the most familiar types of domestic violence. This is the utilization of force on the person with the aim of inflicting harm on him or her. This may involve instances where the person assaults his or her partner through their physical force and may involve such actions such as hitting, slapping, punching, kicking, choking, or any other force that causes harm to the other partner. Physical abuse may also involve the use of objects such as, a knife, stick, etc., to cause bodily harm on the child. In legal context, physical abuse is defined as assault or battery depending on the prognosis of the country or state in which the act was committed.

Specifically, the system is particular sensitive to physical abuses and there are laws to guard the abused and punish the abuser. Most of the physically abused people may look for protection through legal means in the form of restraining orders or order of protection restrain the physical abuser from having any physical contact with the victim. In the worst cases, physical abuse can end up as criminal charges, which include, imprisonment, fines, and other penalties for the abuser. Most domestic violence cases often involve Some of the common forms of abuse include:

Emotional And Psychological Abuse

These are kinds of abuse which do not leave bodily marks and are not considered severe forms of domestic violence, at the same time they cannot be compared with physical abuse but they are as dangerous. These are the types of abuse that include behaviors that are used to dominate, humiliate or other ways that result in constant trauma that the victim endures throughout his life. Some of the ways in which women suffer at the hands of their male partners is through temper outbursts and angry words, threats to take away children, degradation, exclusion from friends and relatives, and negative comments about their appearance, personality or intelligence. Emotional abuse entails the following, gaslighting; which is a process where the abuser makes the victim doubt their reality, memory or even perceptions. Although both physical and psychological abusers may not use physical tools to harm the victim, the outcomes of such abuses can be greatly devastating since they affect the psychological well-being of the victim.

Laws protecting children acknowledge these forms of abuse and in some occasions the law can act on them, for example by removing a damaging person from the child’s environment, restraining orders and divorce. It is generally not easy to prove cases of emotional or psychological abuse as more often the evidence involves the use of the survivor’s word, threat messages, and communications.

Sexual abuse for example is unlawful in many jurisdictions and governments have codified the law to create offenses in relation to child abuse as well as providing for legal instruments of ensuring the offender is brought to book. Sexual abuse within a domestic setting can mean worst for the victims including shame, fear of revenge or dissolution of the family. But the law offers the possibility to turn to court and get protection or justice in a form of pressing charges against the abuser or getting a restraining order or a divorce.