Statutes: Northern Mariana Islands

Unless the context otherwise requires:
(a) “Domestic or family violence” means the occurrence of one or more of the following acts by a
family or household member, but does not include acts of self-defense:
(1) Attempting to cause or intentionally, knowingly or recklessly causing bodily injury to another
family or household member;
(2) Placing a family or household member in fear of bodily injury;
(3) Attempting to cause or causing a family or household member to engage in coerced or forced
sexual activity by force, threat of force or intimidation;
(4) Engage in a knowing and willful course of conduct that constitutes harassment.
(b) “Family or household members” include:
(1) Adults or minors who are current or former spouses;
(2) Adults or minors who live together or who have recently lived together;
(3) Adults or minors who are dating;
(4) Adults or minors who are engaged in or who have recently engaged in a sexual relationship;
(5) Adults or minors who are related by blood or adoption;
(6) Adults or minors who are related by marriage or formerly related by marriage;
(7) Persons who have a child in common; and
(8) Minor children of a person in a relationship that is described in paragraphs (1) through (7).
(c) “Harassment” is a knowing and willful course of conduct directed at a specific person which
seriously alarms, annoys, or harasses the person, and which serves no legitimate purpose under law or
custom. The course of conduct must be such as would cause a reasonable person to suffer substantial
emotional distress, and must actually cause substantial emotional distress to the victim.
(d) “Program of intervention for perpetrators” means a specialized program that:
(1) Accepts perpetrators of domestic or family violence; or
(2) Offers treatment to perpetrators of domestic or family violence; or
(3) Offers classes or instructions to perpetrators of domestic or family violence.
(e) “Program for victims of domestic or family violence” means a specialized program for victims of
domestic or family violence and their children that provides advocacy, shelter, crisis intervention, social
services, treatment, counseling, education, or training.
(f) “Safety plan” means a written or oral outline of actions to be taken by a victim of domestic or
family violence to secure protection and support after making an assessment of the dangerousness of the
situation.