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Legal Information: Virginia
Laws current as of
December 19, 2023What is the definition of an act of violence, force, or threat?
For the purposes of getting this protective order, an act of violence, force or threat means any act that involves violence, force, or threat; and
- results in physical injury; or
- reasonably makes you fear death, sexual assault, or physical injury.1
Some examples of acts that could qualify as acts of violence, force or threat are:
- forceful detention;
- stalking;
- any criminal sexual assault crime (including, rape, sexual battery, sodomy, and more - all are listed here in Article 7); or
- any criminal offense that results in physical injury to the body or reasonably makes you fear death, sexual assault, or physical injury.1
1 Va. Code § 19.2-152.7:1
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