Heightened awareness and an increase in reports of domestic violence has led to a widespread legal response since the 1980s. Once thought to be a problem that was best handled without legal intervention, domestic violence is now treated as a criminal offense.
http://legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/Domestic+abuse
(5) Essential personal effects means those items necessary for a person's immediate health, welfare, and livelihood. Essential personal effects includes but is not limited to clothing, cribs, bedding, documents, medications, and personal hygiene items.
http://apps.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=26.50.010
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings given them: (1) Court includes the superior, district, and municipal courts of the state of Washington. (2) Dating relationship means a social relationship of a romantic nature. Factors that the court may consider in making this determination include: (a) The length of time the relationship has existed; (b) the nature of the relationship; and (c) the frequency of interaction between the parties.
http://apps.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=26.50.010
Any abusive, violent, coercive, forceful, or threatening act or word inflicted by one member of a family or household on another can constitute domestic violence. Domestic violence, once considered one of the most underreported crimes, became more widely recognized during the 1980s and 1990s.
http://legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/Domestic+abuse
18 U.S. Code § 16 - Crime of violence defined. § 16. any other offense that is a felony and that, by its nature, involves a substantial risk that physical force against the person or property of another may be used in the course of committing the offense. (Added Pub.
https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/16
Those who have studied domestic violence believe that it usually occurs in a cycle with three general stages. First, the abuser uses words or threats, perhaps humiliation or ridicule. Next, the abuser explodes at some perceived infraction by the other person, and the abuser's rage is manifested in physical violence.
http://legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/Domestic+abuse
The term “crime of violence” means—. (a) an offense that has as an element the use, attempted use, or threatened use of physical force against the person or prop­erty of another, or.
https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/16
Any abusive, violent, coercive, forceful, or threatening act or word inflicted by one member of a family or household on another can constitute domestic violence. Domestic violence, once considered one of the most underreported crimes, became more widely recognized during the 1980s and 1990s.
http://legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/Domestic+Violence
Public outrage over domestic violence also led to the inclusion of the violence against women act as title IV of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 (Pub. L. No. 103-322, 108 Stat.
http://legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/Domestic+abuse
Definition of Domestic Violence. Domestic violence refers to violent acts committed by a family or household member against another, such as child abuse or the mistreatment of one’s spouse. Domestic violence can refer to physical harm inflicted on a member of a household or family, by another member of the same household or family. The catch-all term domestic violence can generally apply to any partners -- married or unmarried, straight or gay, living together or simply dating.
http://criminal.findlaw.com/criminal-charges/domestic-violence.html
legal definition of domestic violence
Domestic violence refers to violent acts committed by a family or household member against another, such as child abuse or the mistreatment of one’s spouse.