Domestic Violence

Domestic violence can be broadly defined as a pattern of abusive or controlling behaviors in an intimate relationship. Partners may be married or not; heterosexual, gay, or lesbian; living together, separated or dating.

Violence such as physical assault, unwanted or forced sexual activity, and stalking may be criminal. Emotional, psychological and financial abuse may not be criminal but they are forms of abuse and can lead to criminal violence.

Examples of abuse include

• verbally insulting or humiliating a partner
• keeping a partner from contacting their family or friends
• withholding money
• preventing a partner from getting or keeping a job
• physical aggression
• threatening physical harm
• sexual assault
• stalking
• intimidation
• damaging a partner’s property
• Domestic violence is also known as domestic abuse, spousal abuse, family violence and intimate partner violence.

Impact on Children

Children who grow up with frequent exposure to violence in the home are prone to numerous social and psychological problems. As adults they are at increased risk of becoming a new generation of victims and abusers, because they are taught from an early age that violence is a normal part of life.

Abuse-related Criminal Court Cases

Domestic violence and abuse frequently have a criminal court case component attached to the violence.  The defendant may try to keep you from staying engaged with the court process.  Check out the flyer below under the "Supporting Documents" tab for information on some of the tactics defendants use to keep you from seeing your case through to the end of the court process.

Additional Domestic Violence Resources

In Coos Bay, our local community-based domestic violence/sexual assault advocacy organization is S.A.F.E. Project, (541) 756-7000.  For more information, or to contact other shelter or rape crisis centers near you, call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE.

We recognize that people experiencing crime have varied needs. For information about other resources that may be helpful to you, please see 211info.org

Crime Victims' Assistance Programs provide victims of crime with victims' rights support, and referrals to community-wide victim resources while engaged in the criminal justice process. This link provides a Statewide Map of Oregon Counties, and contact info for the Crime Victims' Assistance Program in your County: County Victims' Assistance Programs Throughout Oregon