Domestic violence can take on many forms. These may include crimes such as harassment, assault, criminal damage, attempted murder, rape and false imprisonment. Being assaulted, sexually abused, or harassed by a partner or family member is just as much a crime as violence inflicted by a stranger and often more dangerous. Abusers and offenders are prosecuted under criminal law.
In most domestic violence cases, the victim usually calls the police, presses charges, then reconciles with the abuser. From there they seek to have the charges dropped. It is often observed that the entire pattern gets repeated. In the event that such events do not get repeated, city and district attorneys in some local communities and states consider domestic violence as a crime. In some localities, a criminal case may be brought against the person causing the harm without a complaint being made by the victim.
