Domestic violence (shortened to DV) is violence or abuse in any form, by one person against another in a domestic (i.e. family) setting. DV is a leading cause of homicides in Spokane County.
There is no single agreed-upon definition for domestic violence, as definitions are inconsistent between jurisdictions reporting statistics (i.e. city and county) as well as sectors (nonprofits, government, healthcare, etc.). Thus, a broad definition of domestic violence, also sometimes referred to as family violence, is used and encouraged. There are multiple types of DV, such as intimate partner violence.
Abuse is characterized by the pattern of action that an individual uses to intentionally control or dominate their intimate partner. That is why the words “power and control” are in the center of the wheel. The abusive individual systematically uses threats, intimidation, and coercion to instill fear in their partner. These behaviors are the spokes of the wheel. Physical and sexual violence holds it all together – this violence is the rim of the wheel. (Domestic Abuse Intervention Programs)