Domestic violence affects adults, children, families, and communities in dramatic and indelible ways. It will have a detrimental impact on people's health, mental health, safety, and legal rights, including custody rights. And so, every state has a system of shelters, mental health services, and legal aid for victims of domestic violence and their families.

In the legal setting, two phrases are frequently mentioned: "the cycle of domestic violence" and "a pattern of domestic violence." The "cycle of domestic violence" generally refers to three phases: the tension building phase, the abusive incident, and the honeymoon phase. This article focuses on the other phrase, "a pattern of domestic violence."