INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE FACTS:

1. One in four women in the United States reports experiencing violence by a current or former spouse or partner at some time in her life.
2. Almost half of the women murdered in New York State are killed by their intimate partner. 
3. In Broome County, law enforcement responds to 550-600 domestic incidents each month.
4. Women ages 16 to 24 experience the highest rates of intimate violence.  (Bureau of Justice Special Report: Intimate Partner Violence, May 2000)

How is intimate partner violence defined?

Domestic violence is a pattern of coercive behaviors which can include physical, psychological, sexual, economic and emotional abuse exerted by one intimate partner over the other intimate partner, with the goal of establishing and maintaining power and control.

The abuser's goal is reflective of their belief that they have a right or an entitlement to control their intimate partners.

The following is a list of examples of tactics used by an abuser to gain that power and control. (NYS-OPDV):

Physical Abuse:

• Biting
• Kicking
• Strangling
• Grabbing
• Slapping
• Hair-pulling
• Punching
• Shooting
• Shoving
• Stabbing
• Withholding medication, medical care, medical equipment, nutrition
• Forcing use of alcohol or other drugs

Economic Abuse:

• Controls finances
• Keeps partner from getting or keeping a job
• Demands partner's money

Emotional/Verbal Abuse:

Undermining, or attempting to undermine, a person's self-worth by:

• Constant criticism
• Put downs
• Insults
• Name calling
• Silent treatment
• Manipulating feelings/emotions
• Repeatedly making and breaking promises
• Undermining partner's parenting and/or relationship with children
• Threatening to harm, kill or abduct children
• Using child visitation to harass victim
• Excessive, repeated sleep interruption

Psychological Abuse:

• Instilling, or attempting to instill fear through ridiculing or humiliating the victim
• Destroying property
• Threatening to harm self or victim
• Blaming abuse on victim
• Injuring, killing, or threatening to injure or kill pets
• Isolation, keeps victim away from friends, family
• Stalking

Sexual Abuse:

Force or attempts to force any sexual activity without consent:

• Rape, sodomy, attacks on sexual parts of the body
• Unprotected sex
• Forces sex with others
• Forced prostitution
• Degrading, sexually explicit behavior toward victim
• Taking/showing sexually explicit film or photos and using them against the victim

Attempts to undermine a person's sexuality:

• Treating partner in a sexually derogatory manner
• Criticizing sexual performance and desirability
• Accusations of infidelity
• Withholding sex

Below are some resources for you or someone you may know who is a victim of intimate partner violence:

Looking for help?
New York State Domestic Violence & Sexual Violence 24 hr. Hotline:

                               English    1-800-942-6906                        

                               Spanish   1-800-942-6908

Looking for information on Orders of Protection?   click here OPP

New York Sheriff's Victim Hotline: 1-888-846-3469      www.vinelink.com

SAFE Housing / Advocacy / Support:
Broome County - SOS Shelter, Inc. 24 hr crisis-line 607.754.4340 or www.sosshelter or Toll free 1.877.754.4340

Counseling:
Family & Children's Society 607.729.6206 or www.familycs.org
Crime Victims Assistance Center 24 hr crisis-line 607.722.4256 or text 725-8196  www.cvac.us

For other information on domestic violence go to: www.opdv.ny.gov

For other information on sexual assault go to: www.nyscasa.org

Further Reading:

• Effects Of Domestic Violence On Children (pdf, 7k)
• I Think Someone I Know Is Being Abused (pdf, 12k)
• Safety Plan
  
• For People Victimized By Their Intimate Partners (pdf, 29k)