Domestic Violence
Domestic violence is any of the following behaviors: physical, sexual, economic and emotional abuse, alone or in combination, by an intimate partner often for the purpose of establishing or maintaining power and control over the other partner. The Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center Police take reports of domestic violence very seriously and each report will be investigated fully. In any domestic violence situation, the safety of the victim and any involved children is paramount.
Domestic violence occurs in heterosexual, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender relationships. Whether the victim is male or female, violence of any kind in relationships is unacceptable. Domestic violence affects people from every age, racial or ethnic background, religious group, neighborhood, and income level.
If you are in immediate danger and need help or want to speak to a Police Officer about your situation, call the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center Police at (617) 632-9111.
The BIDMC Police work closely with the Department of Social Services within the medical center and will assist in obtaining restraining orders as well as protecting the privacy and lives of any victims of violence, be they visitors, patients or employees.
Massachusetts General Laws Definition of Domestic Abuse
The Massachusetts General Laws define domestic abuse as the occurrence of one or more of the following acts between family or household members:
- Attempting to cause or causing physical harm ;
- Placing another in fear of imminent serious physical harm;
- Causing another to engage involuntarily in sexual relations by force, threat or duress.
Family or household members are defined as persons who:
- Are or were married to one another;
- Are or were residing together in the same household;
- Are or were related by blood or marriage;
- Have a child in common regardless of whether they have ever married or lived together; or
- Are or have been in a substantive dating or engagement relationship, which shall be adjudged by district, probate or Boston municipal courts in consideration of the following factors:
- The length of time of the relationship;
- The type of relationship;
- The frequency of interaction between the parties; and f the relationship has been terminated by either person, the length of time elapsed since the termination of the relationship.
Resources
If you are a victim of abuse and need treatment or referral, call toll free: SafeLink, a Massachusetts statewide multilingual, 24-hour service hotline at 1-877-785-2020 or click here for more information.
Additionally the BIDMC Social Work Department offers a wealth of resources and information for those involved with domestic violence or abusive relationships through their various programs, particularly the Center for Violence Prevention and Recovery. For more information on these services visit the BIDMC Social Work Department page by clicking on one of the related links in the upper right hand column of this page.
