Domestic Assault

Domestic violence occurs when the defendant commits a crime against his or her domestic partner. Domestic violence is different from assault or battery because the prosecutor must prove that the alleged victim and the defendant have a domestic relationship with one another.


Specifically, the prosecutor must prove that the defendant and the victim live together, have lived together in the past, or share a child together.

Punishment for such a crime can result in incarceration, fines, court-ordered counseling, probation, full restitution to the victim, a permanent criminal record, and loss of the right to possess firearms permanently.

  • Adults or minors who are current or former spouses;

  • Adults or minors who live together or who have lived together;

  • Adults or minors who are dating or who have dated or who have or had a sexual relationship, but does not include fraternization between two (2) individuals in a business or social context;

  • Adults or minors related by blood or adoption;

  • Adults or minors who are related or were formerly related by marriage; or

  • Adult or minor children of a person in a relationship that is described in subdivisions (a)(1)-(5).

You can be charged with domestic assault if the victim is categorized as the following: