Get Help
​For immediate help, Dial 911, if you or anyone you know are experiencing domestic violence or call
The National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233)
What is Domestic Violence?
According to the National Domestic Violence Hotline organization, domestic violence, also called intimate partner violence (IPV), domestic abuse or relationship abuse is a pattern of behaviors used by one partner to maintain power and control over another partner in an intimate relationship. Domestic violence does not discriminate. Anyone of any race, age, sexual orientation, religion or gender can be a victim – or perpetrator – of domestic violence. It can happen to people who are married, living together or who are dating. It affects people of all socioeconomic backgrounds and education levels.
Relationship violence is a combination of a number of different tactics of abuse that are used to maintain power and control — which are the words in the center of the Power and Control Wheel (see below). The center is surrounded by different sets of behaviors that an abusive partner uses in order to maintain this power and control.
These sets of behaviors are:
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Coercion and threats
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Intimidation
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Emotional abuse
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Isolation
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Minimizing, denying and blaming
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Using children
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Economic Abuse
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Using Privilege
​A lot of these behaviors can feel subtle and normal — often unrecognizable until you look at the wheel in this way. Many of these can be happening at any one time, all as a way to enforce power within the relationship.​
Copyright by the Domestic Abuse Intervention Project
202 East Superior Street, Duluth, MN, 55802
218-722-2781
National Domestic Violence Resources
THE NATIONAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HOTLINE
Advocates are available 24/7 in more than 200 languages.
All calls are free and confidential.
P.O. Box 90249
Austin, TX 78709
1-800-799-SAFE (7233)
www.thehotline.org
Local Resources in Washington, DC & Maryland
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WASHINGTON DC METROPOLITAN POLICE DEPARTMENT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE RESOURCES
Metropolitan Police Department members assist crime victims by providing them with information about their rights and available programs and services that can help them cope with physical injury, emotional trauma, and economic loss.
300 Indiana Avenue, NW, Room 5059
Washington, D.C. 20001
Phone: 202-727-9099
https://mpdc.dc.gov/page/victim-assistance
PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY FAMILY JUSTICE CENTER (PGCFJC)
The PGCFJC provides a full array of co-located services for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking and elder abuse.
14757 Main Street
Upper Marlboro, MD 20772
301-870-8008
https://princegeorgescourts.org/358/Prince-Georges-County-Family-Justice-Cen
MARYLAND NETWORK AGAINST DOMESTIC VIOLENCE (MNADV)
The MNADV promotes awareness and prevention of domestic violence by providing a statewide Helpline for survivors. Also provides a listing of all organizations providing comprehensive services for domestic violence.
4601 Presidents Dr., Ste. 370
Lanham, MD 20706
Hotline: 1-800-634-3577
Office: 301-429-3601
www.mnadv.org
CHARLES COUNTY, MD - MD COURTS FAMILY SERVICES PROGRAMS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE UNIT
The goal of the family service programs within the circuit courts is to provide an effective approach for the early resolution of family conflict. Because the courts sometimes function as "trauma centers," serving families in crisis, they are in a unique position to identify problems, and connect families who seek court intervention with much-needed services.
P.O. Box 3000
La Plata, MD 20646
301-932-3072
https://mdcourts.gov/clerks/charles/family
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DV Resources by State
