Title 18 › PART I — CRIMES › CHAPTER 110A — DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND STALKING › § 2266
Defines important words used in the chapter so people know how they are being used. Bodily injury: physical harm or sexual abuse, not including acts done in self-defense. Course of conduct: a pattern made up of 2 or more acts showing a continuing purpose. Enter or leave Indian country: includes leaving one tribal government’s area and entering another’s. Indian country: has the meaning given in section 1151 of this title. Protection order: any temporary or final court order that stops violence, threats, harassment, sexual violence, or unwanted contact, and any support, child custody, or visitation parts that come with such orders. Serious bodily injury: has the meaning in section 2119(2). Spouse or intimate partner: for most parts of the chapter, includes a current or former spouse, someone who shares a child, someone who lived as a spouse, or a romantic/intimate partner (the same basic list applies under section 2261A, tied to the stalking target); it also includes anyone similarly protected by state or tribal family violence laws. State: a U.S. State, the District of Columbia, or any U.S. commonwealth, territory, or possession. Travel in interstate or foreign commerce: does not include travel between States by an Indian tribe member who stays entirely in the tribe’s territory. Dating partner: a current or former romantic/intimate social partner, judged by length, type, and how often the people interacted. Pet: a domesticated animal kept for pleasure (for example, a dog, cat, bird, rodent, fish, turtle, or similar animal). Emotional support animal: an animal covered by the exclusion in section 5.303 of title 24, Code of Federal Regulations (or a successor regulation) and that is not a service animal. Service animal: has the meaning in section 36.104 of title 28, Code of Federal Regulations (or a successor regulation).
Full Legal Text
Crimes and Criminal Procedure, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
Legislative History
Reference
Citation
18 U.S.C. § 2266
Title 18, Crimes and Criminal Procedure
Last Updated
Sep 23, 2026
Release point: 119-110