Domestic Violence Frequently Asked Questions
What is domestic violence?
Domestic violence or family violence is a pattern of abusive behavior in a relationship in which on individual exerts power and control over another partner.
What counts as abuse?
Abuse can take many forms. Some examples are physical abuse, sexual abuse, financial abuse (such as withholding money), verbal abuse, stalking and cyberstalking (such as monitoring computer and phone usage)
Does it have to be by an intimate partner to be considered domestic violence?
No. One common misconception about domestic violence is that it only occurs between intimate or romantic partners. Domestic violence can occur between family members or other household members.
Are only women victims?
No. Anyone, even men, can be victims of domestic violence and women can be abusers. Domestic violence can affect anyone regardless of race, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, and religion. Domestic violence laws typically protect men and women equally, and most state laws are designed to protect victims, no matter what gender, from their abuses (of any gender)
National Domestic Violence Hotline resources
TheHotline.Org Resource Database
The National Domestic Violence Hotline is a national organization promoting awareness and the end to domestic violence. Their website includes an extensive list of national resources including different state coalitions, national coalitions, teen specific and LGBTQ+ specific resources. Click "See more" to be directed to the resource page of their website.
National Coalition Against Domestic Violence resources
NCADV Resource Database
The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV) is a group that promotes legislation and policies to serve and protect victims of domestic violence on the national level. Their resource page includes information for victims across the country, with race and ethnicity specific resources, LGBTQ+ specific resources, legal resources and more. Click "See more" to be directed to the resource page of the NCADV website.
National Hotlines phone numbers
National Domestic Violence Hotline
Call 1 (800) 799-7233
National Sexual Assault Hotline
Call (800) 656-4673
National Dating Abuse Helpline
Call or text LOVEIS to 1 (866) 331-9474
Or click "Go" to be directed to loveisrespect.org to use their online instant messaging system
Interactive Safety Planning from loveisrespect.org
What is a safety plan?
A safety plan is a personalized plan set in place to avoid and be prepared for all kinds of dangerous situations. Whether a survivor chooses to leave an abusive or unhealthy relationship or not is completely up to them, but it is important to have a plan in place in case of different scenarios.
What should I include?
A safety plan should be specific to survivors experiences, because you are the expert of your situation. Some things to consider when creating your safety plan could be who you can call to help, where you can stay if you choose to leave, having money set aside or asking friends or family to hold money for you in the case you cannot access shared funds, securing important documents and medications in a location you can access quickly, and including and discussing your plan with your children
Can I create a safety plan online?
Loveisrespect.org has an online interactive safety plan option that once completed, can be viewed online, printed out, or discretely sent to a survivors email with a link that is valid for 24-hours. Click "Online Safety Planning" below to be directed to the Loveisrespect.org interactive safety planning tool
I cannot access the online tool safely or discretly. Is there a printable copy availible?
Yes! This is the safety planning sheet we share and review with our clients at STOPDV. Click below to be directed to our "Services" page where there is a PDF version of the safety planning sheet we use at STOPDV.
Smartphone Apps
bSafe
DocuSAFE
DocuSAFE
bSafe is a free app available for iPhone and Android phones. This app was designed to be used all over the world for emergencies such as domestic violence and sexual assault situations. It allows users to send and receive SOS alarms when you or your loved ones are in trouble, view the location of the individual in danger live on a map, remove yourself from an unpleasant companion by means of a fake phone call, and more. Click "see more" to be directed to the bSafe website FAQ page for more information about the app and download information.
DocuSAFE
DocuSAFE
DocuSAFE
DocuSAFE is a free app availiable for both iPhone and Android that assists survivors in collecting, storing, and sharing evidence of abuse. Survivors can use the app to log individual incidents as evidence such as phone calls, photographs, videos, and more. Having one central location to store all of the documentation a survivor has allows them to identify cycles of recurring abuse and share this information with law enforcement officials. The app also requires PIN access created by the survivor to ensure privacy. Click "See More" to read more about the DocuSafe app and download information
Find a lawyer and legal information
FindLaw.com
FindLaw.com is a free site that offers legal information and an attorney search engine that can be filtered to a victim's area. They have a domestic violence page containing information such as what domestic violence is, domestic violence laws, resources, and more. Click "Find out more" to be directed to the domestic violence page on the FindLaw website.