Protection Order Definition Matrix - Battered Women's Justice Project

State
Definition of Domestic Violence/ Abuse for Domestic Violence Civil Protection Order
proceedings), section 13-2904 (Disorderly conduct), subsection A, paragraph 1, 2, 3 or 6, section 13-
2910 (Cruelty to animals), subsection A, paragraph 8 or 9, section 13-2915 (Preventing use of telephone
in emergency), subsection A, paragraph 3 or section 13-2916 (Use of telephone to terrify, intimidate,
threaten, harass, annoy or offend), 13-2921 (Harassment), 13-2921.01 (Aggravated harassment), 13-
2923 (Stalking), 13-3019 (Aggravated domestic violence), 13-3601.02 (Aggravated domestic violence)
or 13-3623 (Child or vulnerable adult abuse; emotional abuse) if any of the following applies:
1. The relationship between the victim and the defendant is one of marriage or former marriage or of
persons residing or having resided in the same household.
2. The victim and the defendant have a child in common.
3. The victim or the defendant is pregnant by the other party.
4. The victim is related to the defendant or the defendant's spouse by blood or court order as a parent,
grandparent, child, grandchild, brother or sister or by marriage as a parent-in-law, grandparent-in-law,
stepparent, step-grandparent, stepchild, step-grandchild, brother-in-law or sister-in-law.
5. The victim is a child who resides or has resided in the same household as the defendant and is
related by blood to a former spouse of the defendant or to a person who resides or who has resided in the
same household as the defendant.
6. The relationship between the victim and the defendant is currently or was previously a romantic or
sexual relationship. The following factors may be considered in determining whether the relationship
between the victim and the defendant is currently or was previously a romantic or sexual relationship:
(a) The type of relationship.
(b) The length of the relationship.
(c) The frequency of the interaction between the victim and the defendant.
(d) If the relationship has terminated, the length of time since the termination.
Arkansas ARK. CODE ANN. § 9-15-103 ((2)-(4) (2012).
(3) “Domestic abuse” means:
(A) Physical harm, bodily injury, assault, or the infliction of fear of imminent physical harm, bodily
injury, or assault between family or household members; or
(B) Any sexual conduct between family or household members, whether minors or adults, that
constitutes a crime under the laws of this state; and
(4) "Family or household members" means spouses, former spouses, parents and children, persons
related by blood within the fourth degree of consanguinity, any children residing in the household,
persons who presently or in the past have resided or cohabited together, persons who have or have had a
child in common, and persons who are presently or in the past have been in a dating relationship
together.
(2) (A) "Dating relationship" means a romantic or intimate social relationship between two (2)
individuals that shall be determined by examining the following factors:
(i) The length of the relationship;
(ii) The type of the relationship; and
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