Domestic violence policies

Definition of domestic violence
Domestic violence and emotional abuse are behaviors used by one person in a relationship to control the other. Partners may be married or not married; heterosexual, gay, or lesbian; living together, separated or dating

Physical abuse
Physical abuse is hitting, slapping, shoving, grabbing, pinching, biting, hair-pulling, etc. Physical abuse also includes denying a partner medical care or forcing alcohol and/or drug use

Sexual abuse
Sexual abuse is coercing or attempting to coerce any sexual contact or behavior without consent. Sexual abuse includes, but is certainly not limited to marital rape, attacks on sexual parts of the body, forcing sex after physical violence has occurred, or treating one in a sexually demeaning manner

Emotional abuse
Emotional abuse is undermining an individual's sense of self-worth and/or self-esteem. This may include, but is not limited to constant criticism, diminishing one's abilities, name-calling, or damaging one's relationship with his or her children.

Economic abuse
Economic abuse is making or attempting to make an individual financially dependent by maintaining total control over financial resources, withholding one's access to money, or forbidding one's attendance at school or employment.

Psychological abuse
Psychological abuse is causing fear by intimidation; threatening physical harm to self, partner, children, or partner's family or friends; destruction of pets and property; and forcing isolation from family, friends, or school and/or work. 

Physical violence
Physical violence is the intentional use of physical force with the potential for causing death, disability, injury, or harm. Physical violence includes, but is not limited to, scratching; pushing; shoving; throwing; grabbing; biting; choking; shaking; slapping; punching; burning; use of a weapon; and use of restraints or one's body, size, or strength against another person. Violence between intimates can also include homicides and robberies committed by intimates. 

Sexual violence
Sexual violence can be divided into three categories: 1) use of physical force to compel a person to engage in a sexual act against his or her will, whether or not the act is completed; 2) attempted or completed sex act involving a person who is unable to understand the nature or condition of the act, to decline participation, or to communicate unwillingness to engage in the sexual act, e.g., because of illness, disability, or the influence of alcohol or other drugs, or because of intimidation or pressure; and 3) abusive sexual contact.Threats of physical or sexual violence is the use of words, gestures, or weapons to communicate the intent to cause death, disability, injury, fear, or physical harm.

Psychological/emotional violence
Psychological or emotional violence involves trauma to the victim caused by acts, threats of acts, or coercive tactics. Psychological and/or emotional abuse can include, but is not limited to, humiliating the victim, controlling what the victim can and cannot do, withholding information from the victim, deliberately doing something to make the victim feel diminished or embarrassed, isolating the victim from friends and family, and denying the victim access to money or other basic resources. It is considered psychological/emotional violence when there has been prior physical or sexual violence or prior threat of physical or sexual violence. 

Stalking
Stalking often included among the types of IPV. Stalking generally refers to harassing or threatening behavior that an individual engages in repeatedly, such as following a person, appearing at a person's home or place of business, making harassing phone calls, leaving written messages or objects, or vandalizing a person's personal property. 

Tension Building

 * For the abuser, the tension building stage is about a lack of control. Minor abuse incidents will occur, including verbal and psychological abuse. The abuser may be aware of this negative behavior, but does not accept responsibility. Jealousy can escalate as fear that the victim may leave; the abuser often believes that more brutality will keep the victim from leaving. Often will misinterpret the victim's withdrawal from the relationship as rejection, causing further violence.


 * For the victim, the tension building stage is about denial. The victim will often deny that the abuser is responsible for the abuse, instead blaming oneself, or other external factors. This involves a rationalization process that requires the victim to look at events that have occurred in abuser's life to cause abuse. The victim will also become more nurturing and compliant, in an attempt to appease abuser. The victim sometimes accepts the abuse as being directed against them; but doesn't believe they should be abused but does believe that what they do can prevent the abuser's anger from escalating. Will attempt to alter the abuser's behavior as a way of providing safety. Towards the end of this stage, the tension will become unbearable; the victim can develop stress induced illnesses, and suffer from anxiousness, depression, sleeplessness, over/under eating, fatigue, and tension headaches.

Serious battering incident

 * For the abuser, the serious battering incident is the event where the batterer inflicts serious harm to the victim. It is often characterized by the abuser becoming overwhelmed with rage, making forced sexual contact with the victim, and privately abuses the victim. The abuser will often try to justify the event, blaming the victim, or minimizing the event to make it seem less severe. The police are often called as a result of this incident, and often the batterer will deny the incident occurred.


 * For the victim, the serious battering incident is about controlling the severity of the violence. The victim begs, pleads, bargains for safety, and may try to maintain nurturing, compliant behavior even during attack. The victim also may both call the police and/or seek treatment, depending on the severity of the situation. As a result of the attack, the victim commonly feels shame and disbelief that the incident occurred, often feeling guilty that they let the situation go so long without doing anything.

Honeymoon

 * For the abuser, the honeymoon stage is when the abuser "changes their ways", and begs for forgiveness. The abuser pleads with and attempts to blame the victim and encourages family to do the same. The abuser will often be a loving partner again, promising the domestic violence will not again occur. If drugs or alcohol were involved in previous incidents, the abuser will promise to give those up. In some cases, the abuser believes that the abuse has taught the victim a lesson, and the victim will never act up again, so it's okay to reenter the once healthy relationship.


 * For the victim, the honeymoon stage is when the victim feels delusional about the relationship's potential, and her necessity to protect it. The victim will often renew their belief in the original dream, in how happy they could be together. Believes that this calm, loving phase is what her partner is "really" like. The victim will often interpret the abuser's abuse, depression, and need for the victim as proof that they are in love.

Cultural challenges for immigrant victims
Domestic violence is a complex problem in general, but cultural influences can complicate it further and intensify the effects of abuse on women living in diverse communities. Cultural influences can create barriers, preventing immigrant victims of domestic violence from reaching out and receiving help.

Limited Information


 * The victim may:
 * Not be aware that domestic violence is against the law in the United States.Believe that religion permits corporeal punishment of wives.
 * Not realize they have rights in the U.S. or that police and other service agencies will provide help regardless of immigration status.
 * Not be aware that services are available in their own language or know how to access services.

Social Pressure


 * The victim may:
 * Believe that preserving the community or family reputation is more important than his/her personal rights.
 * Believe that police should not be involved in what they consider to be 'family matters.'
 * Believe that discussing marital or family problems with others may be tremendously shameful to them.
 * Believe that there is greater honor in persevering through adversity than in seeking assistance to ensure personal safety.

Fear of Authorities


 * The victim may:
 * Fear deportation because spouse threatens to expose status even though, as a domestic violence victim, s/he may be protected from deportation.
 * Fear police, based upon negative experiences with police in their country of origin.
 * Fear losing custody of children upon separation from the spouse.
 * Fear losing support or being outcast from his/her cultural community.
 * Fear loss of financial stability because spouse controls access to finances.

Military issues
Currently in the military there are “3.3 million active duty members and their family members stationed in the U.S. and abroad” and among them domestic violence happens. The victims are most likely to be females either it be active duty women serving the military or a spouse of an active duty military personnel.

According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV):
 * 84% of the spousal abuse incidents reported involved physical abuse
 * 66% of cases are females victims in the military
 * 62% of abusers are on active military duty
 * 30% of active duty military women report intimate partner abuse
 * 22% cases are reported for intimate partner violence during military service
 * Domestic violence homicides in the military communities (1995-2001):
 * Army: 131
 * Navy or Marine Corps: 54
 * Air Force: 32

Most of the time women in the military are scared and fear to report these incidents because it might affect either their or their spouse’s career and lack of confidentiality and privacy.

Violence in the Military
When…
 * The abuser is a civilian: the military have to turn the case over to civilian authorities because they have no control over the situation. If necessary, the military do have the power to protect military members from abusive civilian spouses.
 * The abuser is a military member: it is handled two separate ways – The Military Justice System and the Family Advocacy System (Department of Defense program).

In many cases, the commander will issue a Military Protective Order (MPO) to protect the alleged victim or child or by request if it is necessary. This MPO will protect the victim or the child from the abuser by having the abuser to stay away from the victim and/or turn in their government weapon custody card. If the abuser violates the MPO then they will be prosecuted under the Uniform Code of Military Justice depending on the violations.

Department of Defense - Family Advocacy Program
The Family Advocacy System is a type of program that is for identification, intervention and treatment purposes only, not for punishment.
 * If there is suspicion of any family violence going on (even if it is a small matter), it is required that any military personnel and Department of Defense (DOD) officials to report it to the Family Advocacy System.
 * The Department of Defense divides up the abuse base on the severity of the case either: severe, moderately or mild physical abuse.

Steps in the Family Advocacy System:
 * The situation is reported
 * Assign a caseworker to the victim
 * Assist in the victims: medical, health and protection
 * Develop a safety plan
 * Interview victim, abuser, and others that may apply
 * Investigate the incident

If there is a child involved, it is necessary that it is reported to local child protection agencies. They will also be involved in the process.

After the investigation:
 * Presented to a multidisciplinary case review committee that involves:
 * The Family Advocacy Program
 * Law Enforcement
 * Staff Judge Advocate
 * Medical Staff
 * Chaplain
 * The committee will then decide and come to the following conclusion:
 * Substantiated: The abuse did happen after further investigation.
 * Suspected: The case needs to be pended for further investigation. The investigation should not exceed 12 weeks.
 * Unsubstantiated: The information is insufficient to support the claim for the abuse that happened. No Family Advocacy services needed.
 * Child Abuse and/or Neglect: Child abuse that includes physical, sexual and emotional maltreatment, deprivation of necessitates. Basically, if a child under 18 year olds is harmed or threatened.
 * Spouse Abuse: Anything that involves physical abuse, assault, battery, threat to kill or injure or act of violence or emotional damages to the victim.

In most cases, the committee’s will let the commander decide on the outcome. The commander will decide to either have the abuser:
 * 1) Seek treatment
 * 2) Impose disciplinary procedures under the Uniform Code of Military Justice
 * 3) Discharged from the military

[[Image:US Capitol Small.JPG|frame|right|300x350px]]Congressional Legislation

 * The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA)
 * Overview: Provides immigration status to abused spouse and child of a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident. To be more precise, through VAWA, any women marrying or dating a male U.S. citizen is eligible to attain a green card immediately by claiming spousal abuse.
 * Military Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Act HR. 840
 * Overview: reduce sexual assault and domestic violence involving members of the Armed Forces and their family members and partners through enhanced programs of prevention and deterrence, enhanced programs of victims services, and strengthened provisions for prosecution of assailants, and for other purposes.
 * Improving Assistance to Domestic and Sexual Violence Victims Act of 2009 S.327
 * Overview: A bill to amend the Violence Against Women Act of 1994 and the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to improve assistance to domestic and sexual violence victims and provide for technical corrections.
 * Domestic Violence Victim Protection Act HR. 203
 * Overview: To amend Federal crime grant programs relating to domestic violence to encourage States and localities to implement gun confiscation policies, reform stalking laws, create integrated domestic violence courts, and hire additional personnel for entering protection orders, and for other purpose

Useful websites

 * thomas.loc.gov/ (to look up legislation)
 * writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml (find your represenative)
 * www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm (find your senator)

Community outreach
The following resources are available to help refugee and immigrant women struggling with domestic violence:

Refugee Women’s Alliance (ReWA)
 * www.rewa.org
 * Phone: (206)721-0243
 * Languages: Amharic, Tigrigna, Somali, Russian, Ukrainian, Romanian, Vietnamese, Lao, Thai, Cambodian, Mandarin

Eastside Domestic Violence Program
 * www.edvp.org
 * 24-Hour Crisis Line: 425-746-1940
 * Languages: Spanish, Japanese

YWCA of Seattle, King County, Snohomish Co - E. Cherry Branch
 * www.wavawnet.org
 * Office Phone: 206-568-7845
 * Languages: Swahili, Tagalog, Spanish

Asian & Pacific Islander Women & Family Safety Center
 * www.apiwfsc.org
 * Phone: 206-467-9976
 * Languages: Vietnamese, Tagalog, Japanese

Chaya
 * www.chayaseattle.org
 * Helpline: 206-325-0325
 * Toll-free: 1-877-92CHAYA
 * Languages: English/ Hindi, Bangla, Farsi, Gujarati, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu and Urdu.

Multilingual Access Project (MAP)
 * Website: www.map-seattle.org
 * Languages: Spanish, Mandarin, Vietnamese, Lao, Cambodian, Tagalog, Korean, Russian, Hindi, Punjabi, Somali, Amharic, Arabic.

National Domestic Violence
 * www.ndvh.org
 * Helpline: 1-800-799-SAFE (7233)

Military OneSource
 * www.militaryonesource.com
 * Phone: 1-800-342-9647

Family Advocacy Program or the Department of Defense Child Abuse Safety and Violation Hotline
 * Hotline: 1-800-336-4592

Toll-free Helpline
 * Help for non-English-speaking domestic violence victims
 * 1-888-847-7205
 * Languages: Spanish, Mandarin, Vietnamese, Thai, Lao, Cambodia, Tagalog, Japanese, Russian, Ukrainian, Romanian, Somali, Tigrigna, Amharic.