Domestic Violence

What Does “Domestic Violence” Mean?

Domestic violence can mean different things in different contexts.  In the context of Idaho law, domestic violence refers to a battery or assault that occurs between “household members,” as that term is defined by Idaho Code section 18-918(1)(a). 

Household members include individuals who are:

• Current spouses
• Former spouses
• Cohabitating as romantic partners (regardless of marital status)
• Parents of one or more children in common (regardless of marital status or cohabitation)

In a broader, non-statutory context, domestic violence constitutes the physical component of the larger concept of “domestic abuse,” which also encompasses nonphysical conduct such as verbal, mental, emotional, financial, and reproductive abuse, as well as harassment, intimidation, and stalking behaviors. It is a learned pattern of physical, verbal, sexual, and/or emotional behaviors used by one person in a relationship to exert power, control, and dominion over the other person. The offender and victim may be married, separated, divorced, or dating; they may be heterosexual, bisexual, gay, lesbian, or transgender; and they may live together or separately. Domestic violence respects no boundaries and occurs across all ages, races, ethnicities, genders, religious beliefs, political affiliations, and socioeconomic classes.

Examples of Domestic Violence

Domestic violence takes many forms and can occur frequently or only occasionally. Examples of domestic violence include, but are not limited to:

• Physical assault or abuse – hitting, shoving, slapping, kicking, grabbing, holding down, restraining, squeezing, choking, strangling, throwing to the ground, tripping, twisting arms, pulling hair, biting, throwing objects, or using a weapon.
• Threatened physical harm – verbal and non-verbal threats, feigned striking movements looming behavior, or gestures intended to cause fear or intimidation.
• Sexual assault or abuse – unwanted, coerced, or forced sexual activity; exceeding boundaries during consensual sexual activity, including refusing to stop sexual activity that was initially consensual; engaging in nonconsensual sexual activity while the person is incapacitated, unconscious, or asleep; or recording sexual activity without the other person’s knowledge or consent.
• Stalking – following or maintaining surveillance on the other person, including by electronic means (tracking devices, location features of applications, monitoring social media, etc.); repeatedly calling, texting, or otherwise contacting the other person; showing up at the person’s home, place of work, school, or anywhere else without invitation or agreement; or placing unsolicited items on or in the other person’s residence, vehicle, or other property without consent.
• Intimidation – threatening harm against a family member, friend, coworker, or pet; threatening to damage or damaging property of a family member, friend, or coworker; or threatening to damage or damaging the other persons property, whether or not the item is shared property and whether or not the offender offers to pay for or replace the item.
• Emotional abuse – gaslighting, guilt manipulation, extreme jealousy, verbal degradation, name calling, insulting appearance or immutable characteristics, demeaning intelligence, or threatening self-harm or suicide if the other person leaves or does not comply with demands.
• Controlling behavior and forced isolation – Restricting movement, access to communication, social interaction, finances, transportation, employment, or education; relocation to isolate the victim from support systems; or monitoring digital activity.
• Economic abuse – preventing employment, prohibiting or restricting independent access to money or property, controlling financial decisions, limiting transportation access, or undermining education or job training.

Domestic Violence vs. Intimate Partner Violence

Domestic violence is sometimes referred to as “intimate partner violence,” but the two are not quite the same.  Intimate partner violence, or IPV, is violence that occurs between any romantic partners, regardless of whether they meet the statutory definition of “household members.” 

Although not all instances of IPV can be prosecuted under Idaho’s domestic violence statutes, the Coeur d’Alene Prosecuting Attorney’s Office is dedicated to identifying and prosecuting instances of IPV with the same vigor, urgency, and victim-centered focus that it uses when prosecuting domestic violence offenses.

A Guide to Victim Services

After a domestic violence charge has been filed, a member of the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office will contact the victim by phone and written correspondence. The Office will inform victims of their rights under Idaho law and provide information on various services available through the Office or community partners, such as Safe Passage and the North Idaho Violence Prevention Center.

The Prosecuting Attorney's Office will:

• Keep victims informed of upcoming hearings and trial dates
• Discuss potential resolutions
• Advise victims of any significant developments in the investigation and the prosecution of the criminal case
• Ensure that their rights as victims are respected and upheld throughout the proceedings

This support is provided through regular communication by mail, telephone, in‑court advocacy, and in‑person meetings, when appropriate.

Resources Available for Domestic Violence Victims

Domestic violence shelters can provide safe, short-term housing, information, and assistance in considering all the options available to victims. They can also help break down the isolation victims have experienced in their abusive relationships and provide support from others who have been through similar experiences. Shelters provide a variety of supportive services which are confidential and free of charge:

• 24-hour confidential crisis hotline
• Emergency housing for victims and children
• Crisis intervention
• Referrals and information
• Legal advocacy
• Housing assistance
• Transportation
• Childcare
• Individual counseling and support groups
• Safety planning assistance

An important step to help yourself or someone you know prevent or stop violence is recognizing the warning signs listed on the Power and Control Wheel.