Domestic Violence

Domestic Violence

Domestic Violence can be defined as a pattern of behavior in any relationship that is used to gain or maintain power and control over an intimate partner or family member. Abuse can take many forms including physical, sexual, emotional, economic or psychological actions or threats. The abuse may include behaviors that frighten, intimidate, terrorize, manipulate, hurt, humiliate, blame, injure or wound an intimate partner . Domestic violence can happen to anyone - regardless of race, age, sexual orientation, religion or gender.

In a legal context, Texas defines "Family Violence," as "an act by a member of a family or household against another member of the family or household that is intended to result in physical harm, bodily injury, assault, or sexual assault or that is a threat that reasonably places the member in fear of imminent physical harm, bodily injury, assault, or sexual assault, but does not include defensive measures to protect oneself."  Family violence may also include child abuse or dating violence.

Family Violence Division

The Family Violence Division specializes in handling cases arising from or related to family violence, dating violence or child abuse.  The division is made up of dedicated prosecutors who handle only felony or misdemeanor cases of family violence, dating violence or child abuse.  Criminal District Attorney Joe Gonzales elevated the status of these types of cases and highlighted his commitment by creating the Family Violence division in January of 2019.