When people think of domestic violence, they conjure up an image of a bruised, broken, and battered human being suffering at the hands of someone they’re supposed to hold close to them. However, millions more Americans are suffering and don’t even that their situation can be what is considered domestic violence.

What Is the Definition of Domestic Violence?

Domestic violence is defined as a sort of catch-all term relating to abusive behaviors in domestic settings or in a familial relationship. It’s behavior that’s intended to control, intimidate, and/or injure a member of a domestic unit. Partly because many families don’t realize that there situation can be what is considered domestic violence, it goes largely unreported, though it is sadly a rampant problem for many families.

So What Is Considered Domestic Violence?

Domestic violence isn’t limited only to acts of physical violence. Sexual abuse, social control, emotional manipulation, and economic deprivation can all be what is considered domestic violence. Sexual abuse or marital rape is an act that’s designed and intended to hurt, humiliate, or even degrade the other person. Emotional abuse is any Emotional abuse is any action that embarrasses, shames, ridicules or demeans another person and is used to lower victims’ senses of self worth so as to control them. Economic deprivation is meant to control a person by withholding necessary economic support, or vital goods like food, shelter, or clothing. Stalking can also be a form of domestic abuse, too.

What Is the Sentence For Domestic Violence?

Domestic violence can be either a misdemeanor or a felony, with the penalties varying from state to state. These penalties can include: community service, fines, intervention programs, jail time, restraining and/or protective orders, termination of parental rights, or even deportation for aliens.

If you or someone you know is suffering a situation that could be what is considered domestic violence, you should get in touch with a lawyer for domestic violence, which can be found with a just simple, local web search like “Las Vegas domestic violence attorneys.” If you have any questions about what is considered domestic violence, feel free to ask in the comments. Read more articles like this.