diff --git a/pmd-apex/src/main/java/net/sourceforge/pmd/lang/apex/rule/ApexRuleViolation.java b/pmd-apex/src/main/java/net/sourceforge/pmd/lang/apex/rule/ApexRuleViolation.java
index b5019a908e..113328bcd9 100644
--- a/pmd-apex/src/main/java/net/sourceforge/pmd/lang/apex/rule/ApexRuleViolation.java
+++ b/pmd-apex/src/main/java/net/sourceforge/pmd/lang/apex/rule/ApexRuleViolation.java
@@ -6,6 +6,8 @@ package net.sourceforge.pmd.lang.apex.rule;
 
 import net.sourceforge.pmd.Rule;
 import net.sourceforge.pmd.RuleContext;
+import net.sourceforge.pmd.RuleViolation;
+import net.sourceforge.pmd.annotation.InternalApi;
 import net.sourceforge.pmd.lang.apex.ast.CanSuppressWarnings;
 import net.sourceforge.pmd.lang.ast.Node;
 import net.sourceforge.pmd.lang.rule.ParametricRuleViolation;
@@ -21,8 +23,12 @@ import net.sourceforge.pmd.lang.rule.ParametricRuleViolation;
  * <li>Suppression indicator</li>
  * </ul>
  * @param <T>
+ *
+ * @deprecated See {@link RuleViolation}
  */
 @SuppressWarnings("PMD.UseUtilityClass") // we inherit non-static methods...
+@Deprecated
+@InternalApi
 public class ApexRuleViolation<T> extends ParametricRuleViolation<Node> {
 
     public ApexRuleViolation(Rule rule, RuleContext ctx, Node node, String message, int beginLine, int endLine) {
diff --git a/pmd-core/src/main/java/net/sourceforge/pmd/RuleViolation.java b/pmd-core/src/main/java/net/sourceforge/pmd/RuleViolation.java
index 7267ab4e1e..5873d6e4db 100644
--- a/pmd-core/src/main/java/net/sourceforge/pmd/RuleViolation.java
+++ b/pmd-core/src/main/java/net/sourceforge/pmd/RuleViolation.java
@@ -6,7 +6,11 @@ package net.sourceforge.pmd;
 
 /**
  * A RuleViolation is created by a Rule when it identifies a violation of the
- * Rule constraints.
+ * Rule constraints. RuleViolations are simple data holders that are collected
+ * into a {@link Report}.
+ *
+ * <p>Since PMD 6.21.0, implementations of this interface are considered internal
+ * API and hence deprecated. Clients should exclusively use this interface.
  *
  * @see Rule
  */
diff --git a/pmd-java/src/main/java/net/sourceforge/pmd/lang/java/rule/JavaRuleViolation.java b/pmd-java/src/main/java/net/sourceforge/pmd/lang/java/rule/JavaRuleViolation.java
index d544783cd4..09ae9715cc 100644
--- a/pmd-java/src/main/java/net/sourceforge/pmd/lang/java/rule/JavaRuleViolation.java
+++ b/pmd-java/src/main/java/net/sourceforge/pmd/lang/java/rule/JavaRuleViolation.java
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ import java.util.Set;
 
 import net.sourceforge.pmd.Rule;
 import net.sourceforge.pmd.RuleContext;
+import net.sourceforge.pmd.RuleViolation;
 import net.sourceforge.pmd.lang.ast.Node;
 import net.sourceforge.pmd.lang.java.ast.ASTCompilationUnit;
 import net.sourceforge.pmd.lang.java.ast.ASTFieldDeclaration;
@@ -37,7 +38,9 @@ import net.sourceforge.pmd.lang.symboltable.Scope;
  * <li>Variable name</li>
  * <li>Suppression indicator</li>
  * </ul>
+ * @deprecated See {@link RuleViolation}
  */
+@Deprecated
 public class JavaRuleViolation extends ParametricRuleViolation<JavaNode> {
 
     public JavaRuleViolation(Rule rule, RuleContext ctx, JavaNode node, String message, int beginLine, int endLine) {
diff --git a/pmd-java/src/main/java/net/sourceforge/pmd/lang/java/rule/errorprone/DaaRuleViolation.java b/pmd-java/src/main/java/net/sourceforge/pmd/lang/java/rule/errorprone/DaaRuleViolation.java
index 40dfc8b977..1ccb8b7dfd 100644
--- a/pmd-java/src/main/java/net/sourceforge/pmd/lang/java/rule/errorprone/DaaRuleViolation.java
+++ b/pmd-java/src/main/java/net/sourceforge/pmd/lang/java/rule/errorprone/DaaRuleViolation.java
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ package net.sourceforge.pmd.lang.java.rule.errorprone;
 
 import net.sourceforge.pmd.Rule;
 import net.sourceforge.pmd.RuleContext;
+import net.sourceforge.pmd.RuleViolation;
 import net.sourceforge.pmd.lang.ast.Node;
 import net.sourceforge.pmd.lang.java.ast.JavaNode;
 import net.sourceforge.pmd.lang.java.rule.JavaRuleViolation;
@@ -16,7 +17,9 @@ import net.sourceforge.pmd.lang.java.rule.JavaRuleViolation;
  *
  * @author Sven Jacob
  * @author Brian Remedios
+ * @deprecated See {@link RuleViolation}
  */
+@Deprecated
 public class DaaRuleViolation extends JavaRuleViolation {
 
     private final String variableName;