What is Domestic Violence?

The willful intimidation, emotional abuse, assault, battery, sexual assault or other abusive behavior perpetrated by an intimate partner against another. Domestic violence results in emotional trauma, physical injury, and sometimes death. Domestic violence may include not only the intimate partner and dating relationships, but the abuse of children and other family members, and the abuse generally escalates over a period of time.

How Big of a Problem is Domestic Violence?

• One in every four women will experience domestic violence in her lifetime.
• Almost 1/3 of female homicide victims reported in police records were killed by an intimate partner
• One in 6 women and 1 in 33 men have experienced an attempted or completed rape.
• Sexual assault or forced sex occurs in approximately 40-45% of abusive relationships.
• 74% of all Texans have experienced some form of domestic violence or have a friend or family member who has experienced it.
• 31% of all Texans report that they have been severely abused at some point in their lifetime.

Domestic violence can happen to anyone of any race, age, sexual orientation, religion, or gender. It can happen to couples who are married, living together, or dating. It affects people of all socioeconomic backgrounds and education levels.

GET HELP

Help is available to callers 24 hours a day, 365 day a year.

If you or someone you know is afraid about something in your relationship, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or TTY 1-800-787-3224.