Abuse can take many forms, and for many victims, the control does not end when the relationship is over. In fact, some abusers weaponize the family court system to maintain control and inflict emotional and financial distress on their former partners. This behavior, known as litigation abuse, is a tactic used by abusers to manipulate…
In January 2024, New Jersey expanded its definition of domestic violence to include coercive control, offering greater protections for victims of non-physical forms of abuse. This means that victims of psychological, emotional, financial, and other types of abuse can now receive the same protections and remedies as someone who has been physically harmed. If you…
Domestic violence is not always screaming, yelling, and physical strikes that leave the victim battered. Sometimes it is a subtle control and isolation that leaves victims separated from everything they once loved and wanted from themselves. Once, this kind of psychological and emotional abuse was not recognized by the state of New Jersey as domestic…
There exists a shadow in many relationships, one that people called “domestic violence” or “abuse.” In New Jersey, there is an expansive definition of domestic violence, one that has recently been revised to include something known as “coercive control,” an insidious form of psychological abuse that can inflict victims and survivors with intense trauma. Once…
Often when you imagine someone being controlling and manipulative, you think of a person who raises their voice and makes grandiose gestures. Noise, after all, is often affiliated with abuse, as violence can be loud and overwhelming. However, not all abuse is yelling and screaming. Sometimes abuse is a quiet, almost imperceptible shift of power…
Being connected to the world gives people power and others who they can rely upon. That is something that domestic abusers do not want their victims to have, which is why they have tactics that isolate people. Breaking people down is easier when there is no one to rely upon. Understanding these isolation tactics and…
Being on the outside and looking in on a domestic abuse situation, be it physical or coercive control, can be overwhelming. You may feel that your friend is acting strange and are taking notice to their differences. It’s depressing to see a person you love fall victim to abuse, particularly one as subtle and insidious…
Technology has the potential to make the world a better, safer place. Unfortunately, for every upside to technology, there is also a downside, one that puts many people at risk of abuse. Imagine being watched around the clock in private places and when running errands. You would never feel safe. For many people suffering from…
In January 2024, New Jersey recognized coercive control as a form of domestic abuse. Coercive control is defined as a pattern of purposeful behavior that is meant to exert, control, and coercive another individual over a period of time. There are many ways a manipulator might do this to someone, but one of the most…
When you are a victim of domestic violence, the first thing you need to do is feel safe. Unfortunately, the feeling of safety comes rare these days. That is why you need resources and information to get you started. In New Jersey, there are laws and support groups, as well as local authorities and national…