Why Domestic Violence Is - and Should Be - a Crime

Many people are unsure how domestic violence is handled under the law. It may feel like something separate or different from other crimes.  Legally, domestic violence is treated just as seriously as other types of violent crimes.

In Pennsylvania and throughout the United States, a person can face charges for domestic violence for the same actions that would be considered criminal if committed against anyone else – including pushing, hitting, punching, kicking, raping, or strangling. The distinction is that with domestic violence, this harm is directed toward a family member or current or former romantic partner.

At Blackburn Center, we advocate for the right of all people to live free from violence and crime – including domestic violence. We offer a range of services to survivors and victims, including a 24-hour hotline, counseling and therapy, support group, an emergency shelter for intimate partner violence, medical and legal advocacy and accompaniment, and civil legal services specific to type of victimization. Other services offered by Blackburn Center, such as student awareness programs, community education programs, and in-service trainings for professionals, aim to raise awareness and educate the public on these types of issues.

Domestic Violence: Definition and Legal Status

Domestic violence in Pennsylvania isn’t a separate crime by itself. Instead, it refers to specific acts of violence directed at a family or household member. These can include crimes such as physical assault, sexual assault, stalking, strangulation, reckless endangerment, terroristic threats, false imprisonment, and more.

In Pennsylvania, a family or household member can be a spouse, former spouse, parent, child, sibling, other relative, or a current or former intimate partner.

Domestic violence is treated with the same level of seriousness as other violent crimes. Someone who harms a partner, spouse, or family member can face the same legal consequences as if the crime had been committed against a stranger. For example, a conviction for simple assault may result in up to one year in jail. If that same act occurs within a domestic violence relationship, the potential sentence is the same.

Domestic violence also has legal implications beyond criminal charges. Victims and survivors can seek Protection From Abuse (PFA) orders even if there is no criminal conviction. Additionally, domestic violence convictions can be considered in family court for custody and visitation decisions.

Ultimately, domestic violence is about harm within relationships. The law treats these actions as crimes to ensure the safety and protection of victims and survivors and ensures accountability for those who cause harm, regardless of whether the harm happens in the home or elsewhere.

Domestic Violence Is an Underreported Crime

Domestic violence is both incredibly common and widely underreported. In fact, it is sometimes called an “invisible epidemic.” Intimate partner violence, specifically, affects more than 12 million people each year alone.

Unlike other types of violence that happen in public, such as bar fights or street assaults, domestic abuse often takes place in private, behind closed doors. This makes it harder for friends, neighbors, or authorities to notice what’s happening, which makes it even more difficult to report.

This type of abuse can often include emotional, psychological, or financial abuse, adding extra barriers for someone trying to get help or leave the situation.

Domestic violence is a serious and sometimes fatal form of abuse. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), over half of female homicide victims were killed by a current or former intimate partner. It is not a “lesser” crime – it can have life-changing, and even deadly, consequences. That’s why it’s essential to take domestic violence, and all other types of violence and crime, seriously and ensure victims and survivors get access to the critical support they need.

If you or someone you know needs help, call Blackburn Center’s 24-hour hotline anytime at 1-888-823-2272 (TDD available) to speak with a trained crisis counselor. All calls are free of charge and may be anonymous.