The term domestic violence includes felony or misdemeanor crimes of violence committed by a current or former spouse or intimate partner of the victim; by a person with whom the victim shares a child in common; by a person who is cohabitating with or has cohabitated with the victim as a spouse or intimate partner; by a person similarly situated to a spouse of the victim under the domestic or family violence laws of the state or jurisdiction; or by any other person against an adult or youth victim who is protected from that person’s acts under the domestic or family violence laws of the state or jurisdiction.

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

In Florida, domestic violence is defined under Section 741.28 of the Florida Statutes as 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. A 'family or household member' includes spouses, former spouses, persons related by blood or marriage, persons who are presently residing together as if a family or who have resided together in the past as if a family, and persons who are parents of a child in common regardless of whether they have been married. In the case of violence by a person who is cohabitating with or has cohabitated with the victim as a spouse or intimate partner, or by any other person against a victim who is protected under the domestic or family violence laws, Florida law provides for protective injunctions, commonly known as restraining orders, which may be issued to prevent further violence. Victims of domestic violence in Florida should call 911 in emergencies. For non-emergency assistance, they can contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE or visit www.TheHotline.org for support and resources.