FAQ

Dating violence is violence committed by a person who is or has been in a social relationship of a romantic or intimate nature with the victim. Dating violence includes, but is not limited to, sexual or physical abuse, such as physical harm, bodily injury, or criminal assault, or the threat of such abuse.

Domestic Violence is a felony or misdemeanor crime of violence committed by:

• A current or former spouse or intimate partner of the victim.
• A person with whom the victim shares a child in common.
• A person who is a current or former cohabitant of the victim as a spouse or intimate partner.
• A person similarly situated to a spouse of the victim under Virginia’s domestic or family violence law.
• Any other person against an adult or youth victim who is protected from that person’s acts under applicable domestic or family violence laws of Virginia (or, if the crime occurred outside of Virginia, the jurisdiction in which the crime of violence occurred).