Domestic violence is an extremely serious crime that most people rightly disapprove of.
However, while people detest domestic violence, they might have a narrow definition of what it actually is.
Most people think of domestic violence as one member of a couple attacking another, and while that is one form of domestic violence, the definition is much broader.
Domestic violence is defined by Florida law as the assault or battery of one family or household member by another family or household member.
So domestic violence does not just involve a couple; it can also involve a father and daughter, mother and son, or any two people who live together.
The nature of the assault does not have to be physical either, as it can be emotional as well.
If you have been charged with domestic violence, then Parikh Law advises you to contact an experienced defense attorney as quickly as possible.
They will listen to your side of the story and do everything they can to get your charges dismissed or reduced.
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Table of Contents
The Different Types of Domestic Violence
The following are some of the forms that domestic violence can take.
Physical Abuse
This is the most widely known form of domestic violence and one of the most dangerous.
There are many different kinds of domestic violence, the most common being the abuser physically attacking the other person.
This can include the following types of behavior:
- Hitting
- Burning
- Kicking
- Hair-pulling
- Choking
- Scratching
- Threatening with a weapon
There are many other actions, but those are among the most common.
Other types of physical abuse include inflicting or threatening to inflict any of the above-listed actions on another family member or a pet.
Physical abuse also includes withholding vital things like food, money, transportation, or healthcare.
It can also include holding someone against their will.
The reason physical abuse is so dangerous is that it could end up in the death of the abused person.
Sexual Abuse
This is, unfortunately, another common form of domestic violence.
Rape and other forms of forced sexual contact are the most common types of sexual abuse, but there are others.
The abuser could try to coerce the victim into having sex with others, or the abuser could have sex with other people while forcing the victim to watch.
There are even specific cases where denying sex as a form of control is considered to be sexual abuse.
Emotional Abuse
This involves verbal abuse or intimidation directed towards the victim.
The goal of emotional abuse is to undermine the victim’s self-confidence and self-esteem and make them more beholden to the abuser.
In other cases, the abuser tries to instill fear in the victim so that they do not attempt to leave the abuser.
That can be in the form of threats to the victim, their children, or their pets; there are also cases where the abuser threatens to kill or hurt themselves if the victim tries to retaliate or leave.
Emotional abuse can also involve the abuser gaslighting the victim by making them believe that there is something wrong with them and only the abuser is capable of or willing to take care of them.
The abuser will also try to isolate the victim so that they do not have anyone else they can reach out to.
Economic Abuse
This is another form of abuse meant to make the victim dependent on the abuser.
The abuser might restrict access to funds, provide the victim with a very limited allowance, or control how the victim spends their money.
Conversely, the abuser might spend the victim’s money on wasteful things like drugs, alcohol, or gambling.
Stalking
This is the willful, malicious, and repeated harassment or following of another person, usually with an implicit or explicit threat of violence.
It can take place physically or online, and many stalkers typically use both methods.
Stalking usually occurs after a relationship has ended and one party refuses to let the other go.
Stalking can include the following behaviors:
- Harassing telephone calls
- Constant and unwanted electronic communication, such as text messages or emails
- Flooding the victim’s social media with unwanted messages
- Trespassing
- Surveillance of the victim’s every move
- Showing up uninvited at places like the victim’s workplace
- Violating restraining orders
Contact an Attorney if You Have Been Charged with different types of Domestic Violence
All domestic violence charges are extremely serious and carry heavy penalties.
Even when you get free, you will still carry the stigma with you wherever you go.
That is why you should contact an experienced defense attorney who will listen to your side of the story and fight for your rights.
A defense attorney gives you the best chance of getting the charges dismissed or reduced, so contact one if you were charged with domestic violence.
