Protection Order Definition Matrix - Battered Women's Justice Project

State
Definition of Domestic Violence/ Abuse for Domestic Violence Civil Protection Order
(b) An animal owned, possessed, leased, kept, or held by either of the parties or by a minor child of
either of the parties, which threat or act is intended to coerce, control, punish, intimidate, or exact
revenge upon either of the parties or a minor child of either of the parties.
Connecticut CONN. GEN. STAT. ANN. § 46b-15(a) (2012).
(a) Any family or household member as defined in section 46b-38a* , as amended by this act, who
has been subjected to a continuous threat of present physical pain or physical injury , stalking or a
pattern of threatening, by another family or household member may make an application to the Superior
Court for relief under this section.
CONN. GEN. STAT. ANN. § 46b-38a(1)-(4) (2012).
(1) "Family violence" means an incident resulting in physical harm, bodily injury or assault, or an act of
threatened violence that constitutes fear of imminent physical harm, bodily injury or assault between
family or household members. Verbal abuse or argument shall not constitute family violence unless
there is present danger and the likelihood that physical violence will occur.
(2) "Family or household member" means (A) spouses, former spouses; (B) parents and their children;
(C) persons eighteen years of age or older related by blood or marriage; (D) persons sixteen years of age
or older other than those persons in subparagraph (C) presently residing together or who have resided
together; (E) persons who have a child in common regardless of whether they are or have been married
or have lived together at any time; and (F) persons in, or have recently been in, a dating relationship.
(3) "Family violence crime" means a crime as defined in section 53a-24* which, in addition to its other
elements, contains as an element thereof an act of family violence to a family member and shall not
include acts by parents or guardians disciplining minor children unless such acts constitute abuse.
CONN. GEN. STAT. ANN. § 53a-24 (2012).
* (a) The term "offense" means any crime or violation which constitutes a breach of any law of this
state or any other state, federal law or local law or ordinance of a political subdivision of this state, for
which a sentence to a term of imprisonment or to a fine, or both, may be imposed, except one that
defines a motor vehicle violation or is deemed to be an infraction. The term "crime" comprises felonies
and misdemeanors. Every offense which is not a "crime" is a "violation". Conviction of a violation shall
not give rise to any disability or legal disadvantage based on conviction of a criminal offense.
Delaware DEL. CODE ANN. tit. 10 § 1041(1),(2) (2012).
The following terms shall have the following meanings:
(1) “Abuse” means conduct which constitutes the following:
a. Intentionally or recklessly causing or attempting to cause physical injury or a sexual offense, as
defined in § 761 of Title 11;
b. Intentionally or recklessly placing or attempting to place another person in reasonable
apprehension of physical injury or sexual offense to such person or another;
c. Intentionally or recklessly damaging, destroying or taking the tangible property of another person;
d. Engaging in a course of alarming or distressing conduct in a manner which is likely to cause fear
or emotional distress or to provoke a violent or disorderly response;
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