Domestic Violence

Overview

The Domestic Violence Unit is comprised of a team of experienced attorneys and investigators who take a multidisciplinary approach to cases involving a pattern of coercive behavior. Domestic violence does not discriminate against race, class, gender, religious affiliation, age, economic status, or lifestyle choice.

If you need immediate assistance and help, call the STAND! crisis line: 888-215-5555

The District Attorney's Office works with primarily with law enforcement partners to prosecute criminal domestic violence. Criminal domestic violence includes physical violence, sexual violence, threats, and stalking between people who are in an intimate partner relationship (current/former dating partners, current/former spouses). The District Attorney's Office reviews completed investigations from law enforcement agencies to decide whether or not criminal charges can be filed with the court. Charging decisions are always made by an experienced prosecutor.

What is Domestic Violence?

Domestic violence is the willful intimidation, physical assault, battery, sexual assault and/or other abusive behavior as part of a systematic pattern of power and control perpetrated by one intimate partner against another. The other abusive behaviors often include mental, emotional, psychological and economic abuse.

According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence:

  • 32.9% of California women and 27.3% of California men experience intimate partner physical violence, intimate partner sexual violence and/or intimate partner stalking in their lifetimes.
  • In 2007, there were 174,649 domestic violence-related calls to law enforcement; many other incidents went unreported. 40% of reported incidents involved weapons.
  • Between 2009 and 2011, while other types of homicides decreased, domestic violence fatalities in California increased by 11%. Domestic violence homicides comprise 11.8% of all California homicides.

Learn more at the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence website and at the California Partnership to End Domestic Violence website.

Resources

Our Community Partners include the following nonprofits and our office: