Domestic Violence Help

Under Connecticut law, family violence (a.k.a. domestic violence) is defined as an incident between family or household members that either results in a physical injury or causes fear that a physical injury is going to happen. Verbal abuse by itself is not considered family violence. For verbal abuse to be considered family violence there must be imminent danger and that physical violence will likely occur. Discipline of children by their parents or guardians is not family violence unless the child is abused. Although there is no separate crime of family violence, certain crimes (for example, assault, kidnapping, and sexual assault) can be charged as a family violence offense. A criminal charge that includes family violence in the charge may be a misdemeanor or a felony, depending on the circumstances of the case.