If you live in the State of New York and are a perpetrator of domestic violence, watch out because Governor Cuomo signed legislation last week to strengthen the domestic violence laws in the state. Cuomo stated that reports from the U.S. Surgeon General say that offenders return to the same victim about 70 – 80% of the time. Based on these statistics as well as the numerous domestic violence tragedies within the state, lawmakers decided that it was time to close gaps in the current law and heighten awareness of this abuse.

Under the new law offenders who repeatedly harm their spouses, partners or family members, will face felony charges. The new laws created a Class E aggravated family offense. Basically, any perpetrator with a previous conviction toward a family member within the past 5 years will be prosecuted for felony. The state is also creating a specific domestic violence court for parolees. This will increase the focus on any parole violations and provide more safety for the victims.

If you are a domestic violence offender in New York, or anywhere else in the U.S., online domestic violence classes are readily and easily available to you. These classes are for individuals who are ready to take ownership of the problem and want to learn to how to stop the cycle for their own self-improvement or for those offenders who have been court ordered to take a class.

Course topics include an explanation of what exactly domestic violence entails. It’s not always straight forward physical abuse, but can include controlling behavior such as stalking, monitoring computer and phone usage, bullying and denying financial support or managing all of the victim’s purchases. Participants will learn skills in empathy, stress management and how their behavior is mentally and physically impacting the victim. Classes will make offenders think about their actions and teach successful techniques to change their behavior and stop the cycle of violence.

Online domestic violence classes can fulfill court mandates with the approval of your court system. It’s often very difficult to get to a class because it interferes with work or school, or is just too far away. Online classes enable the client to take the course from a web-based computer whenever it fits into the client’s busy schedule. Online domestic violence classes provide the same current material that would be discussed in a traditional classroom. However, taking a class from the comfort of your own home creates a more relaxed and private atmosphere than in a classroom full of other offenders. Many clients feel it also helps them to concentrate on the material more because they are not distracted by disturbances from other students.

Once you get the approval from your legal system to take a distance learning class, you can register at the click of a button and choose the course length you need to fulfill the requirement. The class is then immediately available and it’s up to you to finish it as quickly or slowly as you would like. The topics are divided up by chapter and at the end of the class, a multi-choice final exam is issued. This test can be retaken as many times as necessary to pass with a 70% or better. When you’re done, a certificate of completion will be mailed to you. This is the paperwork that needs to be presented to the court to prove you took the class.

Domestic Violence is a serious problem in our society and throughout the world. Without intervention, the violence continues and the consequences can be life threatening. If you are questioning your behavior or have already been prosecuted, take an online domestic violence class today!

The month of October has been designated Domestic Violence Awareness month to heighten the recognition that Domestic Abuse continues to be a serious problem in our country and world. Every year between 600,000 and 6 million women are victims of domestic abuse. Those between the ages of 20 – 24 are at the greatest risk. However, only 20% of female victims seek help to protect themselves. Many women who are abused are afraid of reporting the aggression because they are afraid of reprisal from their partner, and they are socially embarrassed about the situation.

Domestic Abuse is also known as IPV or Intimate Partner Violence. It describes physical, sexual or mental harm caused by a partner or spouse. It can start as early as the teenage years and children who grow up in this environment are more likely to accept the behavior when they are older.

The goal of Domestic Violence Awareness Month is to discuss the topic more openly, especially with teens, so that they can learn to stop the behavior before it ever takes root. It’s not a pleasant or easy subject to discuss and is easily overlooked, but it’s important that we talk about the subject with our daughters before they start dating so they are aware of the potential and know it should never, ever be accepted even one time.

Education is our strongest resource for breaking the cycle of domestic abuse. If you think, or a loved one is telling you that it’s time to get control of your violent behavior, a good place to start is by taking an online domestic violence course. Course topics include the definition of domestic violence, who is being victimized, recognizing the signs of abuse and most importantly how to get a handle on it and stop the behavior forever. The subjects of empathy, stress management and effective communication are addressed.

Many participants of online domestic violence classes need to take them to fulfill court requirements related to domestic assault. Online classes need to first be approved by your judge or court system. Once they are accepted, they are the most convenient and easy way to learn the material. Online classes can be taken from any web-based computer in your home, office, library or local coffee house. There is no predetermined timeline, so participants can take the classes whenever they have time in their busy schedules, day or the middle of the night. They are also highly beneficial for individuals who want to keep a low profile about the situation. A wealth of information and training is available to you at the touch of a button, in the privacy of your own home, so no one in the community will see the participant entering a public domestic violence class. It is a quiet and anonymous situation, completely unlike the traditional classroom where you might be expected to share your story with a group of strangers.

A Certificate of Completion is issued to the client when the final exam has been successfully passed at the end of the course. This is the document that must be given to the court system to prove that the offender accomplished learning the material presented. Domestic violence is something that no one should have to live with. These classes are one way to learn how to overcome the cycle of violent behavior and establish a safer, happier home environment.

October is National Domestic Violence Awareness month. With this comes a renewed emphasis from police stations across the country to find local domestic abuse offenders that have somehow evaded authorities. These sweeps have been intentionally planned to tie-in with October’s increased awareness, unbeknownst to the offenders.

In Toledo, Ohio 42 people wanted on domestic violence warrants were arrested this past week. Twelve of the arrests were for felony level charges. In Northwest Ohio, 60 police officers were part of Wednesday’s raids which took 20 hours and one month to plan. In the same 36 hours that 4 people were killed due to domestic abuse altercations, 40 suspects were arrested. In Medford, Oregon police arrested 9 people. In Dane County, Wisconsin Deputies searching out domestic violence offenders put 3 residents behind bars as part of this national effort. Nine deputies from the Dane County Sheriff's Office made 78 attempts at various times of the day to locate people with outstanding warrants. And, in unmarked cars, four teams of St. Paul Police family violence officers spread out across the city, armed with the list of 60 offenders wanted by outstanding arrest warrants. A dozen were eventually apprehended.

These raids are an opportunity to bring public awareness to domestic abuse issues. Statistics show that the majority of women involved in domestic abuse situations do not report the abuse to the police. They are either afraid of the repercussions from the abuser, don’t know where to turn or are concerned with what society will think of them. This is a time of year that law enforcement wants to get the message across that victims are not alone and that there are resources and police support to help victims before it’s too late.

Perpetrators also have resources to support them in stopping the cycle of behavior. High quality online domestic violence classes are available to enroll in any time of the day or night. These courses are an excellent step to take to learn about what causes the impulse behind the behavior, basically helping the offender understand why they have this lack of control. The education also includes techniques for stress management and how to learn to stop this behavior before it is too late. Taking a class online has many benefits including self improvement, convenience and money savings. The client just goes to the website, clicks on the length of class they would like to register for and then the class is available immediately. The client can log-in and out of the course at their own convenience so they don’t have to miss any work or school to complete the education. Classes are available online 24/7 and Dr. Novick can directly be reached during the week with any questions or concerns.

With the approval of the court system for a distance learning class, online domestic violence classes can often substitute for a classroom based program to fulfill a court mandate. This allows the offender the freedom of taking the class at his own convenience, in the comfort of his own home and his own pace. A Certificate of Completion is issued upon successfully passing the final exam with a 70% or better. The final can be retaken until passed. With the court’s prior approval, they will accept this certificate to prove the requirement has been fulfilled.

If you are in the throws of a cycle of violence that you would like to stop, take an online domestic violence class now! Either for self-improvement or for a court mandate, this education will lead you and your loved-ones on a healthier and safer path for long-term happiness.

Did you know that October is Domestic Violence Awareness month? Domestic violence touches the lives of women and children of all ethnicities and financial backgrounds in the United States each year. Despite progress in it’s reduction, one in four women continues to experience some kind of domestic violence in her lifetime and about 3 out of 4 women know someone who either is or has been a victim of domestic abuse.

Domestic Violence month was first established in October 1987, the same year that the first national toll-free hotline was established for the use of any person to call in for help and safety. Today, communities across the U.S. are commemorating this month with candlelight vigils, wearing the color purple, and an increased public discussion of the topic.

In his presidential proclamation earlier this month, President Obama stated “NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim October 2012 as National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. I call on all Americans to speak out against domestic violence and support local efforts to assist victims of these crimes in finding the help and healing they need.”

Everyone has the right to live without harm or fear and domestic abuse can come in many forms. Of course, physical abuse comes to mind immediately but it is also prevalent in verbal and emotional behavior, financial control, stalking, monitoring and isolation of the individual. Once the abuse has been identified either by authorities or friends and family, it is important that both the abuser and the one being abused get help. To find help for those abused, the National Domestic Violence Hotline is available to help victims get to a safer place until the situation is resolved. On the other hand, to begin on the road to recovery, those accused of domestic violence should take online domestic violence classes. These programs are available from the convenience of the person’s home on any web-based computer. This distance-learning format provides privacy for a matter that the couple may not want to go public.

Participants in online programs are often mandated by the courts to take them for education and retribution purposes. Students will review the cycle of their violent behavior; it’s causes, and solutions to stop it. Emotional sensitivity, stress management and effective communication tools are taught so the offender can learn how to put themselves in the other’s shoes and feel the hurt they’ve caused. The end goal is learn techniques to stop the cycle of violent behavior forever and get life back on a safe, healthy and mentally sound track.

Online classes are easy to take. The client simply goes on the website and registers for the class length that is appropriate to fulfill their mandate or an 8 hour domestic violence class to get started. There is nothing to download so you don’t need paper or a printer. All you need to do is set aside time that works into your life commitments and follow the information on the screen. At the end of the course a final exam is issued. With a 70% or better, a Certificate of Completion will immediately be sent to you.  This is the documentation you need  to prove to the court system that the course was successfully finished. The final can be taken over again until a 70% score or better is achieved. This class is for educational purposes and will benefit anyone interested in ending this behavior and creating a safer environment for their family.

Domestic Violence is the leading cause of injury to women in the United States between the ages of 15 and 44. It is also the least reported act of violence. Often, women are afraid to call authorities because of how their partners will react. They are also concerned with how friends and society will perceive them if the situation becomes high profile. Unfortunately, in the midst of this, a much overlooked side effect is child abuse as well. Research shows that about 30% - 60% of male abusers, abuse children in the household as well. These children grow up in an unstable, frightening environment and are in danger of suffering from physical harm and emotional abuse like taunting, threatening and belittling.

New research published online by Pediatrics shows that injury from abuse like head traumas and burns rose from 1997 – 20009 rose by 4.9%. Specifically, about 6 out of every 100,000 children in the U.S. are physically abused. The majority of the increase in numbers is attributed to abuse of very young children. Traumatic injury rose 10.9% in children under one year old.

If you suspect that a child in the family is being abused by a parent, do not hesitate to get the authorities involved. Signs for child abuse are similar to those you might see in a spouse who is abused. They are as follows:

1) The child is hyper-aware of his surroundings. He appears to be observing everything, always prepared for something bad to happen.

2) The child is overly quiet, passive, withdrawn, compliant and fearful.

3) The child has trouble concentrating.

4) The child has a sudden lack of interest in school, friends and activities.

5) The child does not want to go home.

6) The child avoids contact with adults or one particular adult in the family

7) Physical injuries such as black and blue marks, broken arms or blisters.

A parent that is abusing a spouse may also employ the same type of abusive behavior on children in the home. These behaviors include:

1) The abuser exposes the child to violence against the other parent.

2) There is little interaction and no signs of affection.

3) The abuser embarrasses or humiliates the child with yelling, taunting or bullying.

4) The abuser tells the child that he was a “mistake” or is a “bad” kid.

5) The abuser physically harms the child as a form of punishment.

These are the signs for others to look for. However, if you are the perpetrator of domestic abuse in your family and are looking for guidance and support to overcome this behavior, taking online domestic violence classes from the AJ Novick Group, Inc., is a good place to start. There are a variety of reasons why an individual might employ this behavior. The perpetrator may have endured abuse as a child and this is the only way he knows how to operate, or he has stress and anger management issues. Whatever the case may be, domestic violence classes will help to identify the cause, learn new skills in effectively communicating with the family, and how to make a positive change. Taking the classes online gives the client the freedom of taking them in the privacy of his own home, at any time that is convenient. They will help the individual to get on track to regaining healthy family relationships for a happier, more-fulfilling life.