- According to Florida Statute # 741.28 the definition Domestic Violence, is as follows: “Domestic violence” is any assault, aggravated assault, battery, aggravated battery, sexual assault, sexual battery, stalking, aggravated stalking, kidnapping, false imprisonment, or any criminal offense resulting in physical injury or death of one family or household member by another family or household member.
- Another definition explains domestic violence/intimate partner violence (IPV) and the performance patterns that describe the multiple forms of victims’ abuse during their lifetime as follows: Domestic violence; domestic abuse, spousal abuse or intimate partner violence happens when a family member, partner or ex-partner tries to physically or psychologically dominate another. Domestic violence frequently refers to violence between spouses, or spousal abuse, but can also include cohabitants and non-married intimate partners.
- The term “Intimate Partner Violence” (IPV) is frequently used synonymously with domestic violence.
- The term “Family violence” is a more inclusive definition, frequently used to include child abuse, elder abuse and other violent acts among family members.
- The U. S. Office on Violence against Women (OVW) defines domestic violence as a “pattern of abusive behavior in any relationship that is used by one partner to gain or maintain power and control over another intimate partner.” The definition includes that domestic violence “can happen to anyone regardless of race, age, sexual orientation, religion or gender,” and that it has many forms such as physical, psychological, sexual and or, economic abuse.