Department of Justice
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What do you know about family violence?
1. Family violence means getting hit or beaten. It is not about someone calling you names, putting you down, or being mean.
False. When physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse or neglect happen between members of a family it's family violence.
2. Family violence can happen to anyone in any family. Rich or poor. Young or old.
True. Family violence can happen to any person in any family. No one knows all the causes of family violence. Sometimes, people who grew up in violent homes end up treating their children or other family members the way they were treated. But this doesn't mean that if you experienced abuse you will treat someone else that way. (In fact most do not.)
3. If someone is harmed at home, it's private and no one else’s business. No one can do anything about it.
False. It's not OK for a person to harm you or someone else in school, on the street, or at home. Physical abuse and sexual abuse are against the law no matter where they happen. You can get help.
4. Even if a person in your family does not want help, you can talk to somebody about it.
True. You can tell someone you trust about what is happening in your home and ask them for help. If the situation is really bad, you may want to call the police for help. The police are there to protect people, including children.
5. Family violence could include doing nothing – like leaving a baby home alone in a crib.
True. Parents need to make sure that someone is always protecting young children and taking care of their needs. Neglect can be a form of family violence. Child protection workers may get involved in a family to protect a child from the harm caused by neglect. It's against the law to neglect or abandon a child.
