{"id":352093,"date":"2025-01-14T15:34:43","date_gmt":"2025-01-14T20:34:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/criminal\/criminal-charges\/is-domestic-violence-a-felony-or-misdemeanor.html"},"modified":"2025-06-02T14:00:03","modified_gmt":"2025-06-02T19:00:03","slug":"is-domestic-violence-a-felony-or-misdemeanor","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/criminal\/criminal-charges\/is-domestic-violence-a-felony-or-misdemeanor.html","title":{"rendered":"Is Domestic Violence a Felony or Misdemeanor?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Is Domestic Violence a Felony or Misdemeanor?<\/h1>\n
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\n By Balrina Ahluwalia, Esq.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Laura Temme, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

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All 50 states consider domestic violence a crime, but whether it\u2019s a misdemeanor or a felony depends on where the incident happened and the specifics in each case. <\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n\n

Most domestic violence cases are state-level crimes. This makes the penal code<\/a> in the state of the incident very important. A penal code is a set of criminal laws. It defines offenses and outlines their corresponding punishments.<\/p>\n

Understanding the relevant penal code is critical to any criminal case. It allows a criminal defense attorney to strategize and effectively defend their client. This often involves negotiating a plea bargain<\/a> to reduce charges and penalties.<\/p>\n

The laws, punishments, and legal defenses for domestic violence can vary among the states. Still, they are based on shared legal principles.<\/p>\n

In this article, see which factors affect domestic violence charges, the penalties, and legal defenses for the accused. You can also meet with a criminal defense lawyer<\/a> to better understand your specific case.<\/p>\n

What Is Domestic Violence?<\/h2>\n

Generally, domestic violence offenses<\/a> involve one or more of the following acts of violence:<\/p>\n