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Although domestic violence cases involving celebrities are quick to make the headlines, this issue is shockingly common among everyday Americans. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reports that over 12 million American women and men experience physical abuse, rape, or stalking by a significant other each year. Physical abuse ranges from hitting a significant other to rape, and can tragically end in murder. In 2007, the CDC reported that intimate partner violence resulted in 2,340 homicides. This problem transcends all races, ethnicities, classes, and sexual preferences. Typically associated with violent physical behavior, the person being abused commonly finds themselves first subject to other forms of abuse. Here are some early warning signs and the different types of domestic abuse. Red Flags The following actions may be early warning signs of an abusive relationship: - Pressuring a girlfriend or boyfriend to commit early on in a relationship - Publicly or privately insulting the victim - Raising accusations of infidelity - Exhibiting controlling behavior, such as preventing the victim from working, engaging in social occasions, and using their phones - Becoming physically threatening by hitting walls, breaking things, and even hurting family pets Types of Abuse The National Domestic Violence Hotline reports that not all abusive relationships look or sound the same. They list five categories of abuse: Physical abuse is aggressive behavior that ranges from bruising to murder and commonly begins with something trivial that quickly escalates into frequent and serious attacks, including - Forbidding their significant other from sleeping or eating - Driving recklessly while their significant other is in the car with them - Punching, biting, or choking their significant other Emotional abuse can impact the mental health and well-being of their significant other, through: - Cheating on the victim and then accusing the victim of infidelity - Attempting to control someone's appearance and how they dress - Persistent criticism Sexual abuse occurs when a victim is forced to take part in an unwanted sexual activity, such as - Forced sexual acts - Forced pornography viewing Similar to sexual forms of abuse, reproductive coercion is when the attacker forces the victim to take part in sexual intercourse or - Sabotages birth-control methods - Forces their partner to either get an abortion or prevents them from getting one - Continues to keep their partner pregnant shortly after each birth Behaviors that maintain control over finances constitute financial abuse. These can include - Preventing a partner from working or limiting their work - Stealing a partner's money or maxing out their credit cards - Tracking a partner's spending or giving them an allowance In all but three states, mandatory reporting requirements exist for domestic violence. Although these requirements vary in each state, healthcare providers in most states who suspect maltreatment could be found guilty of a misdemeanor crime if they fail to report it to law enforcement within 48 hours. Of course, when law enforcement shows up to investigate the allegation, they may create a dangerous environment. If any family member, friend, healthcare provider, or the person being abused is preparing to file a report, the safety of the person being abused should first be guaranteed. Resources are available through hospitals and community groups. Furthermore, the person being abused should contact a domestic violence attorney to learn more about their legal options. When seeking attorneys to assist with domestic violence, Roseville, CA residents should contact http://www.bedorelaw.com/Violent-Crimes-Overview/Domestic-Violence.shtml.
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