Violence: Uses

Violence may be broadly defined as the use of force to coerce, abuse, or injure an individual or a group of individuals. This force may include actual physical force or the threat of using physical force. In considering violent acts, the criminal justice system often considers the intent of the aggressor. Acts that are not intentional may be excused or punished to a lesser degree (as in some cases involving negligence). Violent acts vary in their scope, with regard not only to the number of offenders but also to the number of victims who are killed or injured as a result of the violence.

Violence may be considered on either a personal or a structural level. Personal forms of violence include acts such as homicide, sexual ...