State-Specific Laws on Domestic Violence
State-Specific Laws on Domestic Violence
Alabama
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Delaware
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
Domestic Violence Laws & Penalties
Domestic Violence Laws & Penalties
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Domestic Violence Laws and Penalties
Domestic violence crimes involve acts of violence by and against those involved in domestic, family, or intimate relationships. Learn how states define and penalize crimes of domestic violence.
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Differentiating Between Domestic Violence and Abuse
“Domestic violence” and “domestic abuse” are used in news stories to refer to incidents or allegations of physical violence committed between people who are married, who live together, or are who are dating.
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Falsely Accused of Domestic Violence
Domestic violence (DV) is a crime of violence, typically an assault, battery, stalking, or criminal harassment, perpetrated by someone against a family or household member. Some states have specific statutes that are separate from the general assault statutes.
Questions & Answers About Domestic Violence
Questions & Answers About Domestic Violence
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Can the police be sued for improperly investigating a domestic violence claim?
Many states have laws that place specific duties on law enforcement officers who investigate allegations of domestic violence. State laws also protect officers who perform domestic violence investigations from being charged with a crime or being sued by suspects, victims, or witnesses.
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Can I get the prosecutor to drop domestic violence charges against my partner?
My husband and I got into an argument and things got out of hand. Police arrested him for domestic violence. I want the charges dropped because I don't want this to cause an issue and I think we can work it out. Is it possible?
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Domestic Violence Trials: When the Victim Refuses to Testify
While challenges exist to prosecuting domestic violence cases without victim testimony, prosecutors may have other evidence of the crime that proves the case beyond a reasonable doubt.
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What are the consequences of pleading "no contest" to a charge of domestic violence?
A nolo contendere or “no contest” plea is a plea entered by a defendant to a criminal charge. By pleading nolo contendere or no contest, the defendant does not admit the criminal charge but chooses not to contest it.
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Can Spouses Be Forced to Testify Against One Another?
“Privilege” has a special meaning under the law: protection from being forced to testify about communications between yourself and a person with whom you have a special relationship, such as a spouse.