What is Domestic Violence?

Domestic violence is a pattern of abusive and coercive behaviors, including physical, sexual, and psychological attacks, as well as economic coercion, that adults or adolescents use against their intimate partners.

Unlike stranger-to-stranger violence, in domestic violence the assaults are repeated against the same victim by the same perpetrator. While physical assaults may occur infrequently, other parts of the pattern (such as sexual attacks, psychological attacks and/or economic coercion) may occur frequently or even daily. One battering episode builds on past episodes and sets the stage for future episodes. All tactics of the pattern interact with each other and have profound effects on the victims.

Domestic violence includes a wide range of coercive behaviors with a wide range of consequences, some physically injurious and some not; however, all are psychologically damaging. Some parts of the pattern are clearly chargeable as crimes in most states (e.g., physical assault, sexual assault, menacing, arson, kidnapping, harassment), while other battering episodes are not illegal (e.g., name-calling, interrogating children, denying access to the family automobile, control of financial resources). For more information, please visit www.ncadv.org or call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1 (800) 799-7233

What is Sexual Abuse?

Sexual violence is a form of oppression in which sex is used as a weapon by those with power against those without power. Sexual Violence is a public health epidemic in the United States and in Ohio, impacting our family members, neighbors and friends. The term "sexual violence" encompasses all abusive and coercive acts of violence in which sex/sexuality is used as a weapon to harm, humiliate, control, exploit, and/or intimidate. It impacts individuals of all ages, and its pervasiveness knows no demographic boundaries. Sexual violence is a traumatic crime that affects survivors physically, mentally, emotionally, behaviorally and spiritually. It also impacts families, communities, and systems. For more information, please call RAINN at 1 (800) 656-4673 or visit www.oaesv.org.

What is Child Abuse?

Child abuse refers to the physical, emotional, or sexual maltreatment of minors. It also includes exploitation or neglect. Child abuse is when a parent or caregiver, whether through action or failing to act, causes injury, death, emotional harm or risk of serious harm to a child. There are many forms of child maltreatment, including neglect, physical abuse, sexual abuse, exploitation, and emotional abuse.

Although some forms of abuse and neglect are more difficult to detect than others, there are always signs or clues that suggest a child might be in need of help. Unexplained injuries such as burns, bruises, or broken bones could be evidence of abuse. Behavior changes, anxiety or depression in children, aggression, or changes in sleeping patterns could also be signs of abuse. For more information, please visit www.thechildprotectioncenter.org or call (740) 779-7431

What is Human Trafficking?

Human trafficking is a form of modern-day slavery where people profit from the control and exploitation of others. Victims are forced, defrauded, or coerced into trafficking. Even if victims initially offer consent, that consent is rendered meaningless by the actions of the traffickers to exploit them for labor, services, or commercial sex. The most common age in Ohio for children to become victims of trafficking is 13 years old, and the number of Ohio children who become victims of human trafficking each year could fill a large high school.

Ross County has recognized the dangers of human trafficking and have made strides in protecting our citizens. The newly formed Coalition Against Human Trafficking works everyday in our community to educate, protect, and provide assistance to victims of trafficking and their families. In an emergency, first responders to such situations will be assisted by Adena, local law enforcement, the Salvation Army, the Crisis Center, and the Child Protection Center. Visit this link for more information on human trafficking in Ohio.