What Is Domestic Violence?

Brian Zeiger, LLC | April 8, 2016 | Domestic Violence

When you need a lawyer to represent you for a domestic violence, domestic abuse, or Protection from Abuse (PFA) matter, contact a criminal attorney at The Zeiger Firm. Our attorneys understand that domestic abuse and domestic violence cases involve criminal courts, and we will zealously represent you if you are charged with abuse and other domestic crimes.

The Impact of Domestic Violence

Domestic violence while sometimes very serious, can also be very minor. The attorneys at the Zeiger Firm understand the difference. Therefore, it is important people understand the definition of domestic violence and the many forms it can take.

Domestic violence is a catch-all term for violent acts or threats that occur between people who have a particular kind of relationship. They may be married, living together, or even just dating. They may share a child in common. They may be heterosexual, lesbian, or gay. While anyone can become a perpetrator or victim, serious domestic violence injuries typically result from males attacking females. While rape and murder can be forms of it, domestic violence often consists of lesser forms of physical abuse, such as slapping and pushing. Stalking can also be a form of domestic violence. Many forms of abuse are included in the definition of domestic violence:

Physical abuse can include hitting, biting, slapping, battering, shoving, punching, pulling hair, burning, cutting, pinching, etc. (any type of violent behavior inflicted on the victim). Physical abuse also includes denying someone medical treatment and forcing drug/alcohol use on someone.
Sexual abuse occurs when the abuser coerces or attempts to coerce the victim into having sexual contact or sexual behavior without the victim’s consent. This often takes the form of marital rape, attacking sexual body parts, physical violence that is followed by forcing sex, sexually demeaning the victim, or even telling sexual jokes at the victim’s expense.
Emotional abuse involves invalidating or deflating the victim’s sense of self-worth and/or self-esteem. Emotional abuse often takes the form of constant criticism, name-calling, injuring the victim’s relationship with his/her children, or interfering with the victim’s abilities.
Economic abuse takes place when the abuser makes or tries to make the victim financially reliant. Economic abusers often seek to maintain total control over financial resources, withhold the victim’s access to funds, or prohibit the victim from going to school or work.
Psychological abuse involves the abuser invoking fear through intimidation; threatening to physically hurt himself/herself, the victim, children, the victims family or friends, or the pets; destruction of property; injuring the pets; isolating the victim from loved ones; and prohibiting the victim from going to school or work.
Threats to hit, injure, or use a weapon are a form of psychological abuse.
Stalking can include following the victim, spying, watching, harassing, showing up at the victim’s home or work, sending gifts, collecting information, making phone calls, leaving written messages, or appearing at a person’s home or workplace. These acts individually are typically legal, but any of these behaviors done continuously results in stalking and is a crime.
Cyberstalking refers to online action or repeated emailing that inflicts substantial emotional distress in the recipient.

Contact Brian Zeiger

The Philadelphia, Pennsylvania domestic violence lawyers at The Zeiger Firm understand the laws, rules and procedures necessary to represent clients involved with domestic abuse claims, and we fight in the family courts and the criminal courts to obtain the best results. We advocate zealously, never forgetting that our most important goal is obtaining the best results, whether that means fighting procedural battles or representing our clients before a judge or jury. We work hard for our clients, explaining their options and keeping them updated about the status of their cases.

When you need an attorney to represent you in a Protection from Abuse or other domestic violence matter, contact The Zeiger Firm. We represent every client zealously in order to obtain the best results possible in each case. To arrange a consultation, please give us a call at 215-546-0340, and let us help you.

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