Domestic Assault:  Domestic assault or domestic violence is the repeated crime of physically beating a wife, girlfriend or children, usually by the woman's male partner (however, it can also be female violence against a male). Domestic assault/violence is now recognized as an antisocial mental illness. Sometimes a woman's dependence, low self-esteem and fear of leaving cause her to endure this conduct or fail to protect a child.

If you or someone you know is a victim of domestic abuse, it is important to get help finding a way to stop the violence.  The following are Rhode Island resources for domestic violence:

http://www.courts.ri.gov/domesticnew/default.htm
http://www.dayoneri.org/
http://www.ricadv.org/

In Massachusetts, the following resources are available:

http://www.janedoe.org/
http://www.reachma.org/