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California law defines “domestic violence” as abuse committed against an adult or a minor (Penal Code Section 13700(b)): This includes one or more o the following relationships:

  • A current or former spouse,
  • A current or former registered domestic partner,
  • A current or former live-in romantic partner (a “cohabitant”),
  • A person with whom you have, or have had, a child, or,
  • Someone you are seriously dating or were in a dating relationship with, in the past.

Common domestic violence crimes in California include:

  • Willful inflicting of corporal injury: occurs when the person willfully inflicts corporal injury upon another person. The person is a spouse, former spouse, cohabitant, former cohabitant, current, or former dating relationship partner, current or former cohabitant, engagement partner, or they have a child in common. The injury is considered a traumatic condition upon the victim (Penal Code Section 273.5).
  • Battery (as related to domestic violence): occurs when unlawful force or violence is used against a spouse/former spouse, current/former dating relationship, current/former engagement relationship, person with whom respondent has had a child with, or cohabitant (Penal Code Section 243(e)(1)).
  • Stalking (Penal Code Section 644.9): to willfully, maliciously, and repeatedly following or harassing another person and making a credible threat with the intent of placing that person in reasonable fear for his or her safety or that of his or her immediate family.
    • Examples of stalking behavior:
      • Unwanted or unexplained following of the victim,
      • Cyberstalking,
      • Evidence that the defendant was gathering inexplicably large amounts of information regarding the victim,
      • Unwanted communication between the defendant and the victim.
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  • The Relationship Spectrum – ENGLISH
  • Power and Control – ENGLISH
  • Power and Control – SPANISH
  • Teen Power and Control – ENGLISH
  • Safety Plan – ENGLISH
  • Safety Plan – SPANISH
  • A Safety Plan for Kids – English

DV_LogoTHE NATIONAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HOTLINE

1-800-422-4453

MONTEREY COUNTY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HOTLINE (YWCA)

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE LINKS & RESOURCES

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