Definitions

Definitions. Unless the context otherwise requires: (a) “Domestic or family violence” means the occurrence of one or more of the following acts by a family or household member, but does not include acts of self-defense: (1) Attempting to cause or intentionally, knowingly or recklessly causing bodily injury to another family or household member; (2) Placing a family or household member in fear of bodily injury; (3) Attempting to cause or causing a family or household member to engage in coerced or forced sexual activity by force, threat of force or intimidation; (4) Engage in a knowing and willful course of conduct that constitutes harassment. (b) “Family or household members” include: (1) Adults or minors who are current or former spouses; (2) Adults or minors who live together or who have recently lived together; (3) Adults or minors who are dating; (4) Adults or minors who are engaged in or who have recently engaged in a sexual relationship; (5) Adults or minors who are related by blood or adoption; (6) Adults or minors who are related by marriage or formerly related by marriage; (7) Persons who have a child in common; and (8) Minor children of a person in a relationship that is described in paragraphs (1) through (7). (c) “Harassment” is a knowing and willful course of conduct directed at a specific person which seriously alarms, annoys, or harasses the person, and which serves no legitimate purpose under law or custom. The course of conduct must be such as would cause a reasonable person to suffer substantial emotional distress, and must actually cause substantial emotional distress to the victim. (d) “Program of intervention for perpetrators” means a specialized program that: (1) Accepts perpetrators of domestic or family violence; or (2) Offers treatment to perpetrators of domestic or family violence; or (3) Offers classes or instructions to perpetrators of domestic or family violence. (e) “Program for victims of domestic or family violence” means a specialized program for victims of domestic or family violence and their children that provides advocacy, shelter, crisis intervention, social services, treatment, counseling, education, or training. (f) “Safety plan” means a written or oral outline of actions to be taken by a victim of domestic or family violence to secure protection and support after making an assessment of the dangerousness of the situation. Source: PL 12-19, § 2 (102), modified.