Domestic Violence-What Does It Mean?

Domestic Violence is defined as abuse committed against a spouse, former spouse, cohabitant, former cohabitant, a person with whom the batterer has had a dating or engagement relationship or a person with whom the batterer has had a child.  Domestic violence may begin with angry words, a shove, or a slap and may escalate into a pattern of assaultive, controlling behaviors including physical, sexual and psychological attacks against the victim, children, pets or property.

Domestic violence is not an isolated, individual event.  One battering episode builds on past episodes and sets the stage for future episodes.  All incidents of the pattern interact with each other and have a profound effect on the victim.  There is a wide range of consequences, some physically injurious and some not.  All are psychologically damaging.

It is the batterer's use of physical force that gives power to their psychological abuse.  The psychological control of victims through intermittent use of physical assault along with psychological abuse(verbal abuse, isolation, threats of violence, etc.) is typical of domestic violence.  It is important that we understand the ways in which physical, verbal, psychological, sexual and spiritual  abuse serve to control and terrorize victims of family violence.  If the person feels isolated, alone, scared and trapped  in a relationship, they may be caught in a battering relationship.

In Los Angeles County, services are available to help with the following:

  Battered women's shelters

  Health and medical services

  Mental health services

  Financial assistance

  Restraining orders

  Law enforcement

  Victim-witness assistance

There are 22 domestic violence hotlines in Los Angeles County operated by the Domestic Violence Centers.  5 of these hotlines provide crisis counseling for monolingual Spanish-speaking women on a 24-hour basis, and one provides counseling for Asian Pacific women.

In May 1995, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office began a countywide 800 hotline that provides direct access to each of the hotlines.  The 800 number has now been expanded to include Orange County and Ventura County.  Every call to the 800 number is directly routed either to a shelter that provides language specific counseling, or the nearest shelter operated hotline.  Battered women may, at no charge, and without fear of their call being traced through phone records, receive crisis counseling from anywhere inside Los Angeles, Orange or Ventura County.

The number for this service is 1-800-978-3600.  For a list of other hot lines see below.

Additionally, each DPSS office has a Domestic Violence Liaison who can help with requests for financial or Medi-Cal assistance.  The liaison can make appointments and reduce waiting time, speed up the application process and excuse the victim, on a temporary basis, from certain eligibility requirements.