What is Domestic Violence?

Domestic violence is any violent act or crime committed on or against a “family or household member.”  These acts may involve physical harm, threats of physical harm, sexual assault, or other crimes defined under Indiana law.

In Indiana, an individual is a “family or household member” of another person if the individual:

1. is a current or former spouse of the other person;
2. is dating or has dated the other person;
3. is or was engaged in a sexual relationship with the other person;
4. is related by blood or adoption to the other person;
5. is or was related by marriage;
6. has a biological or legal parent-child relationship; or
7. has a child in common with the other person

Domestic violence crimes are broadly defined to include any crime committed by and against an intimate partner (boyfriend/girlfriend, spouses, ex-spouses, or individuals with a child in common).  The most typical crimes of domestic violence include:

1. Domestic Battery
2. Battery
3. Strangulation
4. Invasion of Privacy
5. Intimidation
6. Stalking/Harassment
7. Confinement

Some Helpful links

• National Coalition against Domestic Violence
• National Resource Center on Domestic Violence
• Indiana Coalition against Domestic Violence
• An Abuse, Rape, and Domestic Violence Resource Collection