Bradford Police Department

 

WHAT IS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE?

• Domestic violence is a pattern of physical, emotional, or sexual abuse that takes place between people who share a home or relationship.
• Domestic violence can occur between spouses, partners, adults and their dependent children, same sex partners, and the elderly and their family caregivers.
• Domestic violence affects adults and children regardless of race, religion, socioeconomic status, or educational background.
• Domestic violence is disruptive to the lives of adults and children, often leading to serious injury or death.
• Alcohol and drug abuse, mental disability or previous experience does not cause domestic violence, although these issues generally do have an impact on relationships.
• Domestic violence occurs when the abuser uses power to control another individual.
• Domestic violence will not stop by itself, in fact, it usually becomes more frequent and serious with time.
• Domestic violence is the abuser’s fault; not yours! No one has the right to abuse another person.

 

DOES DOMESTIC VIOLENCE OCCUR IN YOUR HOME?

• Hitting, punching, slapping, kicking, shoving, biting?
• Sudden outbursts of anger, rage, or jealousy?
• Threatening to hurt your children, family members, friends, or pets?
• Destroying your personal property?
• Denying you access to family assets, controlling all finances?
• Behaving in an overprotective manner, preventing you from going to school or work, limiting your contact with friends and family?
• Intimidating or manipulating you to control you or the children?
• Humiliating you in front of others, ridiculing your thoughts, choices, preferences?
• Insulting you by calling you derogatory, racial, or sexual names?
• Forcing you to have sex or engage in sexual acts you do not want?
• If any of this is happening in your home, you may be being abused. Reach out, there is help available to obtain a non-violent lifestyle for you and your family.

 

IF YOU ARE IN AN ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIP BE PREPARED:

Before the Violence:
• Make a safety plan. Staff members with our program can assist you.
• Make a list of important phone numbers (police, domestic violence hotline, and hospital.)
• Have an emergency kit with money, medical cards, checkbook, spare car keys, birth certificates and other I.D., medicine, and food stamps/Access Card.
• List phone numbers of people that can offer shelter, rides, money. Ask family, friends, and others for help.

During the Violence:

• Call the police or have someone else call for you.
• Grab your emergency kit, if you can.
• GET OUT! Take your children with you.

After the Violence:

• Get medical help if needed and tell them what happened.
• Have the hospital staff or a friend take pictures; save any ripped or bloody clothes.
• Call our domestic violence hotline: 1-888-822-6325.