October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month
Domestic violence is very common and occurs in all communities, across all demographics. There are many different forms of domestic violence. It is important to recognize that domestic violence does not have to include physical abuse, such as hitting someone, or physical injury to constitute domestic violence.
Domestic violence is often defined as a pattern of abusive behavior that is used by one person to gain or maintain power and control over another person. We might wonder what this actually means and what types of actions or behaviors constitute domestic violence. There are many different behaviors that can constitute domestic violence. Domestic violence can be physical, emotional, psychological, sexual, economic, or even spiritual. Making threats to another person can constitute domestic violence. Behaviors that intimidate, manipulate, humiliate, isolate, frighten, terrorize, threaten, injure, wound, coerce, or blame someone are domestic violence.
In California, the definition of domestic violence includes actions that “disturb the peace of another party.” Disturbing the peace means destroying someone’s mental or emotional calm and includes coercive control. Coercive control is the unreasonable interference with someone’s free will and personal liberty. Coercive control includes a actions that unreasonably limit another person’s free will and individual rights, such as controlling or keeping track of someone, including their movements, contacts, actions, money, or access to services.
Additional actions that constitute domestic violence include:
- Threats to harm you or your family
- Stalking
- Destroying personal property
- Repeated and unwanted contact with you
- Keeping someone from getting food or meeting basic needs
- Hitting, kicking, pushing, biting, putting hair
- Strangling someone
- Abusing a pet or animal
- Sexual abuse
- Stopping you from accessing or earning money
- Making threats based on someone’s actual, or suspected, immigration status
- Isolating someone from family, friends, or other support
- Making someone do something by force, threats, or intimidation
- Attempting to control or interfere with someone’s contraception, birth control pregnancy, or access to health information
If you are experiencing domestic violence, there are many resources in Contra Costa County to help you. Contra Costa Senior Legal Services can help persons experiencing domestic violence who live in Contra Costa County who are 60 and older. Other resources include:
- Contra Costa Family Justice Center
- Stand! For Families Free of Violence
- For older adults, the Contra Costa Elder Abuse Prevention Project can help you