{"id":372494,"date":"2016-03-31T21:34:53","date_gmt":"2016-04-01T02:34:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/state\/family-laws\/domestic-violence.html"},"modified":"2025-03-18T15:51:05","modified_gmt":"2025-03-18T20:51:05","slug":"domestic-violence","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/family-laws\/domestic-violence.html","title":{"rendered":"State Domestic Violence Laws"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\n \n State Domestic Violence Laws\n <\/h1>\n \n The application and definition of domestic violence laws varies by state.\n <\/p>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
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\n By Susan Buckner, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by FindLaw Staff<\/a>\n | Last reviewed\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

All states have some domestic violence laws<\/a>. Some states, such as Oregon, do not have specific statutes addressing domestic violence. In those states, physical abuse or sexual violence are part of other crimes. For instance, assault between family members is a misdemeanor crime. It differs from assault between strangers in possible penalties.<\/p>\r\n

Nearly all states and cities have domestic violence programs to give legal assistance to victims of domestic violence. The Violence Against Women Act<\/a> (VAWA), a federal law passed in 1994, gives funding and support for these assistance programs.<\/p>\r\n

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

The U.S. Department of Justice defines the crime of domestic violence as abusive behavior<\/a> used by one partner in an intimate relationship to control another partner. Law enforcement and courts recognize that domestic violence does not require physical abuse to be abusive. Domestic violence, or domestic abuse, can include any of these actions:<\/p>\r\n