Domestic Violence
Domestic Violence Facts:
On average in the United States, a woman is abused every nine seconds and four women are murdered by their partners daily. Our office has filed over 500 Domestic Violence cases District-wide in 2022 alone.
What is domestic violence?
Domestic violence is an escalating pattern of abuse where one partner in an intimate relationship controls the other through force, intimidation, or the threat of violence.
What kind of relationship must there be for it to be domestic violence?
Stalking cases and violent crimes committed by or against a “family or household member” or by or against those in a dating relationship.
This may include:
- A spouse or ex-spouse
- A present spouse of an ex-spouse
- Parents, grandparents, stepparents, adoptive parents and foster parents
- Children, grandchildren, stepchildren, adopted children and foster children
- Anyone related to you by blood or marriage
- Anyone you live or have lived with
- Someone with who you have a biological child in common with
- Someone you are dating or used to date
Abuse may come in many forms.
The use of physical force against someone in a way that injures or endangers that person
- Any situation in which a person is forced to participate in unwanted, unsafe, or degrading sexual activity is sexual abuse
- People whose partners abuse them physically and sexually are at a higher risk of being seriously injured or killed
Examples:
- Hitting, pushing, shoving, slapping, choking, punching, kicking, grabbing, beating, throwing a person down, tripping, twisting arms, biting, using a weapon
- Threatened physical harm
- Unwanted, forced sexual activity, making a person do sexual things against their will, physically attacking the sexual parts of a person’s body, etc.
Verbal abuse such as yelling, name-calling, blaming, and shaming. Isolation, intimidation, and controlling behavior also fall under emotional abuse. Additionally, abusers who use emotional or psychological abuse often threaten physical violence or other repercussions if they don’t do what they want.
Examples:
- Stalking
- Intimidation
- Mind games, name-calling, put-downs, public humiliation, and manipulation
- Jealousy, possessiveness, and lack of trust
- Forced isolation from family and friends
- Controlling what the victim does, who the victim sees or talks to, where the victim goes, relocating to a remote area, etc.
- Threats of violence, suicide, or of taking away the children
- Rigidly controlling finances
- Withholding money or credit cards
- Making the victim account for every penny they spend
- Withholding basic necessities (food, clothes, medications, shelter)
- Restricting the victim to an allowance
- Preventing the victim from working or choosing their own career
- Sabotaging their job by making them miss work, or calling constantly
- Stealing from the victim or taking their money
Repeated and harassing behavior that would make that person feel terrorized, frightened, intimidated, threatened, harassed or molested.
Eamples:
- Maintaining a visual or physical proximity to the victim
- Approaching or confronting the victim in a public place or on private property
- Appearing at the workplace of the victim or contacting the employer or coworkers of the victim
- Contacting the victim through electronic communication
- Blasting the victim’s phone with notifications
- Utilizing a friend or family member to make unwanted contact
Our Division
The Domestic Violence Division pledges to treat all domestic violence victims with the dignity and understanding they deserve. We will file criminal charges whenever there is legally sufficient evidence of a domestic violence crime and hope that all victims cooperate with our efforts. However, because we represent the State of Oklahoma, we must protect the safety of domestic violence victims and hold perpetrators accountable for their crimes. Therefore, the Domestic Violence Division may proceed with domestic violence prosecutions with or without the victim’s participation in the case.
Because of the pervasiveness of this crime, it is our position that domestic violence is a crime against society, not a private family matter, and should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. The Domestic Violence Division prosecutes both misdemeanor and felony domestic violence crimes.
These cases can be difficult on victims so the Domestic Violence Division is comprised of both prosecutors and victim/witness advocates who assist victims through the court process. They can explain the process, accompany victims to court and assist them in getting reimbursement for injury. Victims of domestic violence can also obtain free counseling for themselves and their children.
Victim’s Protective Orders
- A VPO is a court order that protects victims of domestic violence, stalking, rape and more
- VPOs are civil filings that may be filled out and filed at the Court Clerk’s Office
- VPOs are NOT a part of the criminal procedure until a VPO is violated
- You may access more information on the Court Clerk’s Website
DON’T BE AFRAID TO GET HELP
If you are in an abusive relationship or have been sexually assaulted, or if you know someone who needs help, please call 1-800-522-SAFE (7233).
The Safeline is a toll-free accessible 24-hour hotline for individuals seeking help or information about domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking.
The Safeline offers:
- Confidential calls with trained individuals who understand issues of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking
- Assistance in safety planning
- Referrals to crisis centers, shelters, and other state resources
- Help is available in 150 languages
If you are in immediate danger, please call 9-1-1
Other Resources:
Non-crisis line: 405-701-5497
Crisis line: 405-701-5540
222 E. Eufaula St.
Norman, OK 73069
www.wrcnormanok.org
405-552-1010
1140 N. Hudson Ave.
Oklahoma City, OK 73103
www.palomarokc.org
405-273-2888
2025 S. Gordon Cooper Dr.
Shawnee, OK 74801