Chapter VIII:Protective Services 1409- DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

II. DEFINITION OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

Domestic violence is the establishment of control and fear in an intimate relationship through the use of violence and other forms of abuse including but not limited to; physical abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse, economic oppression, isolation, threats, intimidation, and maltreatment of the children to control the non-offending parent/adult victim.

North Carolina General Statutes identify certain misdemeanor and felony criminal offenses that often occur in the context of domestic violence, such as assault, stalking, violation of a Domestic Violence Protection Order, domestic criminal trespass, harassing telephone calls, communicating a threat, and strangulation. The N.C.G.S. § Chapter 50-B also defines domestic violence according to the relationship between the parties and behaviors or actions that constitute domestic violence, as well as its available relief.

The primary focus of child protection intervention in cases involving domestic violence is the ongoing assessment of the risk posed to children by the presence of domestic violence. While victims and families may experience and be affected by domestic violence in different ways, there are still core aspects of domestic violence that are consistent across racial, socio-economic, educational, and religious lines as well. The primary goal of a domestic violence perpetrator is to obtain and maintain power and control over his or her partner. While domestic violence may “present” as an incident of violence or neglect, it is rather a pattern of abuse which may include violent incidents. Domestic violence is not simply discord between intimate partners but rather a progressive, intentional, patterned use of abusive behaviors.