What is domestic assault and battery? Does it apply to same-sex couples?
Domestic assault and battery, or “domestic assault,” is the common term for the crime of Assault and Battery Against a Family or Household Member (see VA Code 18.2-57.2). The term “family or household member” is defined in the same way as it is for Family Abuse protective orders, so it includes couples who have “cohabited” together within the last 12 months. Again, the statute does not explicitly include or exclude same-sex couples. It is important to remember that any assault against another person, whether that person is a family member or not, is a crime. If your partner is violent towards you, you have the right to call the police.
