1. Domestic Violence Mercer Island High School Ms. Emery’s Class

2. Hello

3. Domestic Violence Law In the State of Washington RCW

4. RCW 26.50.010 Definitions. (1) "Domestic violence" means: (a) Physical harm, bodily injury, assault, or the infliction of fear of imminent physical harm, bodily injury or assault, between family or household members; (b) sexual assault of one family or household member by another; or (c) stalking as defined in RCW 9A.46.110 of one family or household member by another family or household member.9A.46.110

5. RCW 26.50.010 Definitions. (2) "Family or household members" means spouses, domestic partners, former spouses, former domestic partners, persons who have a child in common regardless of whether they have been married or have lived together at any time, adult persons related by blood or marriage, adult persons who are presently residing together or who have resided together in the past, persons sixteen years of age or older who are presently residing together or who have resided together in the past and who have or have had a dating relationship, persons sixteen years of age or older with whom a person sixteen years of age or older has or has had a dating relationship, and persons who have a biological or legal parent-child relationship, including stepparents and stepchildren and grandparents and grandchildren.

6. RCW 26.50.010 Definitions. (3) "Dating relationship" means a social relationship of a romantic nature. Factors that the court may consider in making this determination include: (a) The length of time the relationship has existed; (b) the nature of the relationship; and (c) the frequency of interaction between the parties.

7. Unique feature of Domestic Violence laws ?

8. Mandatory Arrest for Domestic Violence According to RCW 10.31.100(2)(c), an officer must make an arrest if: The person is sixteen years or older and within the preceding four hours has assaulted a family or household member as defined in RCW 10.99.020 and the officer believes:

9. (i) A felonious assault has occurred; (ii) an assault has occurred which has resulted in bodily injury to the victim, whether the injury is observable by the responding officer or not; or (iii) that any physical action has occurred which was intended to cause another person reasonably to fear imminent serious bodily injury or death. Bodily injury means physical pain, illness, or an impairment of physical condition. When the officer has probable cause to believe that family or household members have assaulted each other, the officer is not required to arrest both persons. The officer shall arrest the person whom the officer believes to be the primary physical aggressor. In making this determination, the officer shall make every reasonable effort to consider: (i) The intent to protect victims of domestic violence under RCW 10.99.010; (ii) the comparative extent of injuries inflicted or serious threats creating fear of physical injury; and (iii) the history of domestic violence between the persons involved.

11. The intent (of the RCW is) to protect victims of domestic violence…… Why is this phrase in the law ?

13. Cycle of Abuse 1 – Tensions Building Tensions increase, breakdown of communication, victim becomes fearful and feels the need to placate the abuser

14. Cycle of Abuse 2 – Incident Verbal, emotional & physical abuse. Anger, blaming, arguing. Threats. Intimidation.

15. Cycle of Abuse 3 – Reconciliation Abuser apologizes, gives excuses, blames the victim, denies the abuse occurred, or says that it wasn’t as bad as the victim claims

16. Cycle of Abuse 4 – Calm Incident is “forgotten”, no abuse is taking place. The “honeymoon” phase.

18. Domestic Violence Power and Control Wheel Using Fear- Making her afraid by the way you look, act and move. Smashing things. Destroying her things. Being mean to pets. Showing off guns and knives.

19. Domestic Violence Power and Control Wheel Abusing Feelings- Putting her down. Making her feel bad about herself. Calling her names. Making her think she is crazy. Playing mind games. Making her feel guilty.

20. Domestic Violence Power and Control Wheel Making Her Be Alone- Controlling what she does, who she sees and talks to, what she needs, where she goes. Limiting her outside activities. Using jealousy to prove your actions are okay.

21. Domestic Violence Power and Control Wheel Denying and Blaming- Making light of the abuse and not taking her worry seriously. Saying the abuse didn’t happen. Saying someone or something else is responsible. Saying she caused it.

22. Domestic Violence Power and Control Wheel Using the Kids- Making her feel guilty about the kids. Using the kids to take messages to her. Using visits to the children to bug her. Making threats to take the kids away.

23. Domestic Violence Power and Control Wheel Being Bossy- Treating her like your maid. Making all the big decisions. Acting like the boss all the time. Being the one to decide which jobs are for men and which are for women.

24. Domestic Violence Power and Control Wheel Using Money to Abuse Her- Stopping her from holding a job. Making her ask for money. Not giving her enough money. Taking her money. Not letting her know about the family money.

25. Domestic Violence Power and Control Wheel Using Force and Threats- Making or carrying out threats to do something to hurt her. Making threats to leave her, to kill yourself, to report her to welfare. Making her drop charges. Making her break laws.

28. Is a major underlying presence on both sides of these encounters

29. The victim’s insecurities (both self-generated and abuser-generated) allow the cycle of abuse to continue

30. But what about the abuser’s insecurities?

31. Triggers that cause Abusers to resort to violence- Fear, Anxiety, Lack of Self-Respect, Lack of Self-Confidence, Drug/Alcohol Use, Cannot Manage Social Interactions, Wants to Humiliate Others, Feelings of Humiliation, Sadism Mirroring-seeing in their victim behaviors that reflect their own weaknesses