Domestic Violence is a pattern of abusive and controlling behaviors that some individuals use against their intimate partners or former partners.  It can include:

Physical Abuse:  Hitting, slapping, punching, shoving, kicking, burning, choking, using weapons and other objects to cause injury.

Sexual Abuse:  Forcing a partner to engage in unwanted sexual acts, refusing to practice safe sex, treating a partner like a sex object.

Emotional Abuse/Intimidation:  Name-calling and put-downs; denying/shifting blame; treating a partner as an inferior; threatening to harm self/others or to have a partner deported; abusing children or pets; stalking; using threatening looks, actions or gestures.

Property/Economic Abuse:  Stealing or destroying belongings/money; refusing basic needs such as food or medical treatment; interfering with a partner's work or education.

Does your partner ever....

• Hit, kick, shove or injure you?
• Use weapons/objects against you or threaten to?
• Force or coerce you to engage in unwanted sexual acts?
• Threaten to hurt you or others, have you deported, disclose your sexual orientation or other personal information?
• Control what you do and who you see in a way that interferes with your work, education or other personal activities?
• Steal or destroy your belongings?
• Constantly criticize you, call you names or put you down?  Make you feel afraid?
• Deny your basic needs such as food, housing, clothing, or medical and physical assistance?

If you answered "yes" to any of the above, it may be time to think about your safety.