What is Relationship Violence?
What is Relationship Violence?
Definitions according to the Millersville University Student Code of Conduct:
Relationship Violence refers to both dating violence and domestic violence. All acts of relationship violence are forms of sexual misconduct under this policy.
Dating Violence is violence committed by a person who is or has been in a social relationship of a romantic or intimate nature with the victim; and the existence of such relationship shall be determined based on a consideration of the following factors: (1) the length of the relationship; (2) the type of relationship; (3) the frequency of interaction between the persons involved in the relationship.
Dating Violence can include:
- Physical assault;
- Verbal abuse;
- Controlling behavior;
- Sexual abuse; or
- Psychological abuse.
Domestic Violence: Domestic violence includes felony or misdemeanor crimes of violence committed by a current or former spouse or intimate partner of the victim, by a person with whom the victim shares a child in common, by a person who is living with or has lived with the victim as a spouse or intimate partner, by a person similarly situated to a spouse of the victim under the domestic or family violence laws of the jurisdiction receiving grant monies, or by any other person against an adult or youth victim who is protected from that person’s acts under the domestic or family violence laws of the jurisdiction.
Domestic Violence can include:
- Physical assault;
- Verbal abuse;
- Controlling behavior;
- Sexual abuse; or
- Psychological abuse.
Stalking is engaging in a pattern of conduct directed at a specific person that would cause a reasonable person to: (1) fear for the person’s safety or the safety of others; or (2) suffer substantial emotional distress.
Stalking is, but not limited to:
- Unwanted telephone calls;
- Unwanted letters, e-mails, social media messages (e.g. Twitter, Facebook,) or other forms of communication/messaging;
- Pursuing or following a person without the person’s consent;
- Unwanted appearances at a person’s place of residence, activity, or work;
- Surveillance or other types of observation; or
- Use of electronic devices or software to track or obtain private information.
Cyberstalking is a form of stalking where a person engages in a course of conduct using the internet, e-mail, or other electronic communications devices to pursue or track another person that would cause a reasonable person to fear for the person’s safety or the safety of others or suffer substantial emotional distress.
For additional information about relationship violence, visit loveisrespect.org.
