District of Columbia Domestic Violence Laws

Domestic violence crimes leave a path of destruction whenever they appear. Called "intrafamily offenses" under the District of Columbia code, the involvement of close personal relationships can make a bad situation worse.

Victims of domestic violence looking to escape their abusers can find an array of helpful resources in D.C. and beyond.

This article will explain what the district considers domestic violence, the protections and penalties for intrafamily offenses that are available, and how to navigate the court system.

What Are Intrafamily Offenses?

Domestic abuse laws are often written with a narrow range of eligible crimes. The image of a battered spouse is a common perception of domestic violence, but that’s only part of it.

Domestic violence is about power and control. Offenses often include sexual abuse, emotional abuse, financial abuse, and more.

In Washinton, D.C., intrafamily offenses include any criminal act between people in qualifying relationships. It also includes animal cruelty. Any abuse inflicted on an animal owned or possessed by a victim is also an interfamily offense.

The District of Columbia considers family members, household members, and intimate partners as eligible for interfamily offenses. These include the following:

• Family by blood (consanguinity)
• Family by adoption
• Family by legal custody
• Family by marriage
• Family by domestic partnership
• The child of an intimate partner
• People who share a home and maintain a close relationship
• People who shared a home and maintained a close relationship
• Spouses
• Former spouses
• People in a domestic relationship
• People who were in a domestic relationship
• Parents with a child in common
• People who have a romantic, dating, or sexual relationship
• People who had a romantic, dating, or sexual relationship
• A relationship where one person wants to be in a romantic, dating, or sexual relationship with the other person

Given the number of people who qualify and the wide range of crimes considered intrafamily offenses, abusive acts stand a good chance of gaining domestic violence categorization in the District of Columbia. Police get special training to handle intrafamily offenses. They’ll try to identify the aggressor in a domestic call.

Resources for Domestic Violence Victims in D.C.

Why is having an abusive act receive intrafamily offense classification so important? Doing so can make escaping and staying away from an abuser much easier. Having a crime declared an intrafamily offense allows access to programs and protections for survivors of domestic violence.

Civil Protection Orders (CPO)

When it comes to domestic violence, keeping an abuser away from their victim is of utmost importance. One way of doing this is through a D.C. domestic violence civil protection order (CPO). This court order helps provide safety for the victim.

Temporary protection orders last 14 days or until the court hearing. If a final CPO gets issued, it lasts up to two years and is renewable.

CPO provisions often include no-contact and stay-away orders for the abuser. Relief from a CPO gets tailored to the needs of the victim. Besides restricting the behavior of the offender, a CPO can also determine housing, award temporary custody of a child, and force the abuser to surrender their firearms.

A CPO is backed by penalties intended to deter the abuser (respondent) from committing any further abuse. Violations are criminal misdemeanors punishable by up to 180 days in jail and a fine of up to $1,000.

There are different ways to file for a CPO. Forms are available online, and you can email them to the Domestic Violence Clerk at DVD@dcsc.gov. Victims can also file in D.C. Superior Court in Room 4510 at 500 Indiana Avenue, NW, or at a Domestic Violence Intake Center.

CPOS are complex, and there’s a lot to know about them. We’ve dedicated an entire article to explaining what they do and how to get the one you need. Under federal law, protective orders issued in the district are good nationwide.

Address Confidentiality Program (ACP)

Escaping an abuser is pointless if they can easily find their victim. D.C. helps keep survivors hidden through the Address Confidentiality Program (ACP).

The ACP gives participants a second legal mailing address for their public records. It also forwards first-class mail to their actual address. There’s no charge to use the ACP.

Victim Renter Protections

It’s common for those involved in domestic violence to share a home. Fear of penalties for breaking a lease shouldn’t keep a victim from escaping. Under District of Columbia law, victims of domestic violence can legally break their lease without penalty. They must show proof of a CPO.

If the court has evicted the abuser and the victim wants to stay in the home, they can request that the landlord change the locks. The landlord has five days to do so. They must reimburse the landlord within 45 days.

DC Domestic Violence Intake Centers (DVIC) and DC SAFE

The district has centers in two locations to help intrafamily offense victims in many ways. The Domestic Violence Intake Centers can help victims develop a safety plan, file for a civil protection order, and much more. The centers are at:

DC Superior Court
500 Indiana Ave., NW, Suite 4235
Washington, D.C., 20001
(202) 879-0152

Domestic Violence Intake Center, SE (Satellite Intake Center)
Anacostia Professional Building
2041 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave., SE, Room 400
Washington, D.C. 20020

If you need to speak with someone in law enforcement, the Metropolitan Police Department Domestic Violence Unit is on the fifth floor at 441 4th St., NW. The number is (202) 727-7137.

D.C. Survivors and Advocates for Safety (DC SAFE) features domestic violence advocates on call 24/7. They often ride with law enforcement officers responding to intrafamily offense calls. If nobody from DC SAFE is with an officer, police can connect them with the agency. The agency is also available at 1-844-443-5732 or INFO@dcsafe.org.

Penalties and Other Effects

While all crimes are eligible for intrafamily offense status with the right people involved, the penalties for the act itself often aren’t enhanced. Washington, D.C., law doesn’t enhance crime penalties when a crime is an intrafamily offense. But there are more penalties for violating a protective order.

It does allow the victim to petition for a civil protection order (CPO), one of the better ways to curtail further abuse. Other protections and programs become available as well.

Once a CPO is issued, the abuser violates it at their peril. Any District of Columbia CPO violation is criminal contempt or a criminal misdemeanor. Penalties include a fine of up to $1,000 and up to 180 days in jail. These are on top of sentences for crimes committed during the violation. Victims can also file complaints of their own for violations.

An intrafamily offense conviction can also hurt custody hearings. The courts must act in the best interests of the child. While courts want to involve both parents in any custody agreement, an intrafamily offender may face supervised visits or denial of visitation rights unless they can prove themselves not a threat.

District of Columbia Domestic Violence Laws: Recap

Whether you call it domestic violence or intrafamily offenses, there’s a lot to know under D.C. law. The table below offers a summary and includes links to important codes.

Note: State laws are always subject to change through the passage of new legislation, rulings in the higher courts (including federal decisions), ballot initiatives, and other means. While we strive to provide the most current information available, please consult an attorney or conduct your own legal research to verify the state laws you are researching.

More Resources

• National Domestic Violence Hotline (877.799.7233)
• District of Columbia Domestic Violence Intake Centers
• DC SAFE — Victim Hotline (844-443-5732)
• DC Coalition Against Domestic Violence
• Domestic Violence FAQ

Facing a Domestic Violence Case in the District of Columbia? Speak To an Attorney

If you’ve suffered intimate partner violence, sexual assault, or any other kind of intrafamily offense, call 911. Once you’re safe, consider reaching out to a domestic violence attorney. They can help you find a way to protect your safety in the long term.

If you’re facing criminal charges for domestic violence offenses, you need to talk to a District of Columbia criminal defense attorney as soon as possible. An expert in criminal law will be open and honest about your options. Having a legal professional represent you in court can make a huge difference.