Domestic violence is a pattern of behavior in which one individual attempts to exert power and control over another individual in a current or former intimate relationship. It is also referred to as IPV - Intimate Partner Violence. Domestic violence happens in many forms: physical, emotional, economic, stalking and harassment and sexual.
According to Colorado Law, domestic violence is
"An act or threatened act of violence upon a person with whom the actor is or has been involved with in an intimate relationship… includes any other crime against a person or property, including an animal, when it is used as a method of coercion, control, punishment, intimidation or revenge directed against a person with whom the actor is or has been in an intimate relationship.*"
*"Intimate relationship" means a relationship between spouses, former spouses, past or present unmarried couples, or persons who are both the parents of the same child regardless of whether the persons have been married or have lived together at any time.
Educating our community is an important part of our mission. Here are some facts about domestic violence:
1 in 3 women will be a victim of domestic violence in their lifetime
1 in 4 men will be a victim of domestic violence in their lifetime
It takes an average of 7-10 times to leave an abusive relationship
Alcohol, drug use and mental health do not make people abusers