ANSWERS: 1
  • Domestic violence refers to emotional, physical and psychological abuse that one person suffers because of the actions of one or more other people. State laws, including New Jersey's, define what forms of domestic violence are considered crimes.

    New Jersey Law

    The New Jersey Legislative enacted the Prevention of Domestic Violence Act of 1991 to legally define domestic violence as a crime and establish a system for assisting victims of domestic violence.

    Definition

    Under the Prevention of Domestic Violence Act of 1991, one or more acts of murder, sexual assault, burglary, harassment, stalking, kidnapping, physical or emotional assault and/or trespassing is defined as domestic violence, according to NJCourtsOnline.com.

    Sexual, Emotional and Physical Abuse

    Under New Jersey law, sexual abuse includes rape and prostitution. Threatening a person and/or her family, calling her demeaning names, controlling her and/or isolating her from her friends and family constitutes emotional abuse. A person physically abuses another if he hits, cuts, spits on, throws or pushes, uses a weapon on, chokes or kills her, according to LSNJ Law.

    Victim

    According to the Prevention of Domestic Violence Act of 1991, a person is considered to be a victim of domestic violence if she is over 18 years old or is an emancipated minor who has suffered abuse from a spouse or household member. Someone who has been abused by a person she has a child with or is dating is also considered a victim of domestic violence, regardless of her age, according to NJCourtsOnline.com.

    Legal Protections

    New Jersey law allows victims of domestic violence to get a restraining order against the person who is harming them. It also allows victims to get custody of children, gain sole possession of their home and/or get punitive damages in court.

    Source:

    Domestic Violence

    Checklist for Victims of Domestic Violence

    DomesticViolence.org

    Resource:

    NJ's Domestic Violence Programs by County

    Domestic Violence in New Jersey

    American Psychiatric Association: Domestic Violence

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