Domestic Violence is:

Any abusive or coercive behavior used
control an intimate partner.
This includes multiple actions; a pattern of manipulative and violent tactics where the victim is forced to change her behavior in response to the abuse.

Cycle of Violence:

Phase 1- Tension

 Increased tension, 'walking on eggshells", anger, blaming, verbal threats, arguing, breakdown in communication
​
Phase 2- Incident

Battering, hitting, pushing, shoving, slapping, kicking, chocking, using objects as weapons, lethal weapons, sexual abuse

Phase 3- Honeymoon

Abuser will deny violence, make excuses for behavior(drunk, stressed, upset, etc.), will say sorry and promise it will never happen again.
Over time the honeymoon phase disappears and you go from incident to tension and back again over and over.

Referrals:

211 Area Information
211
APS/CPS 24 Hour Hotline
1-800-252-5400
Al-Anon
325-657-6640
Alcoholics Anonymous
325-657-6640
Alcohol and Drug Abuse Council
325-224-3481
ADDAC Hot Line
1-800-880-9641
American Red Cross
325-658-4409
Attorney General's Office
325-653-7326
Boys and Girls Club
325-988-8343
Catholic Outreach
325-617-7292
Christians in Action  
.325-655-5127
Crime Victims Compensation
.1-800-983-9933
Electric Service providers www.powertochoose.com
Family Shelter
325-655-5774
Food Stamps/TANF 
325-655-0576
High Sky Children’s Services 
325-947-7233
Indigent Health Care
325-659-6504
Tom Green County Jail
325-659-6597
La Esperanza Clinic
325-658-5339
MHMR Crisis Hotline
325-653-5933
MHMR Mental Health Services
325-658-7750
Open Arms Rape Crisis and LGBT+.
325-655-2000
Open Arms Hotline
325-658-8888
Rust St. Ministries
325-486-1004
Salvation Army
325-655-6981
VINE www.vinelink.com
1-877-894-8463
WIC
325-657-4396
Workforce Solutions
325-653-2321

All clients are given a list of crime victims' rights. 
 A copy of the Texas Crime Victims rights policy is available at the CIU offices.

Facts:

Family violence is a crime.
Most victims are women (85%).
Most abusers are men.
Family violence occurs in all races, ages, and
religions. It happens at all income levels.
Nobody “deserves” to be beaten.
3-4 million women are beaten in their homes each year by husbands or partners.
Attacks by husbands on wives result in more emergency room visits than rape, auto accidents, and muggings combined.
Family Violence occurs in current or former dating, married or cohabiting relationships of heterosexuals or LGBT+ individuals. We use the term “battered woman,” since the overwhelming majority of family violence is perpetrated by men against women.

Effects of Battering:

Women                                                              
Isolation                                               
low self esteem                         
Increased alcohol abuse           
Emotional problems                  
Permanent physical damage
Repetition of abusive behavior
Children
Emotional Problems
Illness
Increased fears, anger
Increased risk of abuse, injuries, and death
Repetition of abusive behavior

Abusers- increased belief that power and control are achieved by violence
Increased violent behavior
Increased contact with law enforcement
Increased emotional problems, decreased self-esteem

Possible Outcomes:

Stay  in the  abusive relationship and become passive.
Stay in the abusive relationship and become combative.
Leave the abusive relationship.

Power and Control Tactics:

Physical and Sexual abuse
Emotional Abuse
Intimidation
Coercion and threats
Economic abuse
Male Privilege
Using the children
Isolation
Minimizing, denying, blaming

Barriers to Leaving:

Relentless behavior of the abuser:
When faced with losing control of their partner through separation or intervention, abusers often turn their attention toward getting their victim back using kindness or cruelty, or both in a continuous, repetitive manner.
Fear of what the abuser might do:
to the victim, children, or other family members.
Fear for the children:
The abuser often threatens to take the children, telling the victim that the courts would side with him.
Financial dependence:
Inability to afford practical things such as food and rent on their own.
Conflicts with religious beliefs
Isolation/lack of support:
A victim who has been isolated by their abuser may believe that no one will believe them. They may be surrounded by the abuser's family and not their own so they have no support around them.
Shame/making excuses for the abuser:
Victim often believe they themselves, are responsible for the abuse. They are told by the abuser that the abuse is their fault so often they begin to believe it.

Indicators that an abuser has a strong potential to kill:

Owns or has access to  a weapon                   Abuser has addiction problems
Increased violence over the past year            Abuser is unemployed
Having a child that is not his                          Depression
Threatens to kill you                                       Separation, or threatened separation,  from the abuser
Avoids being arrested (running from law enforcement)
Threatens Suicide                                            Feel they own you
Chokes you                                                       Stalks you
Is controlling and jealous                               Beat you while you were pregnant
                             YOU BELIEVE HE IS CAPABLE OF KILLING YOU
IF YOU SAID YES TO MORE THAN 8 OF THESE THE ABUSER SHOULD BE CONSIDERED EXTREMELY DANGEROUS