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 includes physical, sexual, emotional, economic or psychological actions or threats. This includes any behaviors that frighten, intimidate, terrorize, manipulate, hurt, humiliate, blame, injure or wound someone. 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."

Domestic Violence Task Force

The Domestic Violence Task Force is a group of prosecutors who specifically handle repeated assaults involving violations of protective orders and assaults involving choking. The Domestic Violence Task Force prosecutors work under the supervision of our Criminal Child Abuse Unit prosecutors. The Task Force is under the Special Crimes Division.