• Domestic violence is a pattern of controlling, manipulative behavior and tactics by one person over another to gain power and control of the other person. In addition to physical and sexual abuse, DV often involves controlling of finances, possessiveness and jealousy, verbal abuse, emotional battering and sexual domination.
• DV occurs in all socio-economic classes, all ethnic and racial groups, and in heterosexual as well as same-sex partnerships. DV involves young and old people alike, and can occur the open or behind closed doors.
• According to the U.S. Department of Justice, 95% of domestic violence victims are women;
• Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 209(a) provides a means for an abused individual to keep the abuser away. Under this law, an individual who is abused can petition the District Court or the Probate and Family Court in his or her area to issue an order that the abuser stay away from the victim. Under this law, “abuse” is defined as:

• Attempting to cause or causing physical harm to a household member;
• Placing another household member in fear of imminent serious physical harm; or
• Causing another household member to engage involuntarily in sexual relations by force, threat, or duress
• “Household member” includes spouses/former spouses, other people residing or who formally resided with the victim; people who are related by blood or marriage; people with a child in common, whether or not they have every lived together; and people who are in, or have been in, a substantive dating relationship

An abuser who violates the terms of the 209(a) “restraining order” will be arrested.