Domestic violence, also known as intimate partner violence, is a blight on our society as a whole. Even though statistic show that domestic violence is not as common as it once was, certain groups of people seem to face a higher risk of being abused by a spouse or partner. Women from the ages of 21 to 25, women who have been divorced or are separated, and women who live in poverty with their families are all more apt to face abuse. Women who are American Indian or Alaskan in race also fit into this group of people who seem to face domestic violence far more often than the average. Domestic violence charges seem to have done their part in helping to keep down the rate of this type of abuse. These charges can be either a misdemeanor or a felony, depending of course on the seriousness of the case.