The terms “family violence” and “domestic violence” include felony or misdemeanor crimes of violence committed by (1) a current or former spouse or intimate partner of the victim; (2) a person with whom the victim shares a child in common; (3) a person who is cohabitating with or has cohabitated with the victim as a spouse or intimate partner; (4) a person similarly situated to a spouse of the victim under the domestic or family violence laws of the state or jurisdiction; or (5) any other person—when the violence is committed against an adult or youth victim who is protected from that person’s acts under the family or domestic violence laws of the state or jurisdiction.

During a divorce, one spouse sometimes alleges the other spouse has committed family or domestic violence against the spouse or the spouses’ children.

Allegations of family or domestic violence are especially serious and the courts treat them as such—often involving child protective services when there are children involved, and the district attorney’s office, which may result in the filing of criminal charges.

A spouse who reports the other spouse’s family or domestic violence may unexpectedly face allegations and charges for participating in, facilitating, or failing to stop or previously report such behavior, allowing it to continue. And it is a criminal offense to intentionally make a false report of family or domestic violence to gain advantage in a child custody or divorce lawsuit, for example.

In an emergency, victims of domestic violence should call 911 or contact state or local law enforcement officials, who can respond to these crimes. Persons in need of non-emergency assistance can also all the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE, or visit www.TheHotline.org.

In Mississippi, 'family violence' and 'domestic violence' encompass a range of misdemeanor or felony crimes of violence committed by individuals in close relationships with the victim, such as current or former spouses, intimate partners, cohabitants, or those sharing a child in common. The state's legal framework takes such allegations seriously, particularly in the context of divorce proceedings, where claims of domestic violence can significantly impact child custody and divorce outcomes. Mississippi courts may involve child protective services and the district attorney's office, potentially leading to criminal charges. It's important to note that making a false report of family or domestic violence to gain an advantage in legal matters is a criminal offense in Mississippi. Victims of domestic violence should contact emergency services or law enforcement for immediate assistance, and non-emergency support is available through the National Domestic Violence Hotline.