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Legal Information: District of Columbia

Statutes: District of Columbia

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Updated: 
October 27, 2023

§ 16-1051. Definitions.

For purposes of this subchapter, the term:

(1) “Board” means the Domestic Violence Fatality Review Board.

(2) “District” means the District of Columbia.

(3) “Domestic violence fatality” means:

(A) A homicide under any of the following circumstances:
(i) The alleged perpetrator and victim resided together at any time;
(ii) The alleged perpetrator and victim have a child in common;
(iii) The alleged perpetrator and victim were married, divorced, separated, or had a romantic relationship, not necessarily including a sexual relationship;
(iv) The alleged perpetrator is or was married to, divorced, or separated from, or in a romantic relationship, not necessarily including a sexual relationship, with a person who is or was married to, divorced, or separated from, or in a romantic relationship, not necessarily including a sexual relationship, with the victim;
(v) The alleged perpetrator had been stalking the victim;
(vi) The victim filed a petition for a protective order against the alleged perpetrator at any time;
(vii) The victim resided in the same household, was present at the workplace of, was in proximity of, or was related by blood or affinity to a person who experienced or was threatened with domestic violence by the alleged perpetrator; or
(viii) The victim or the perpetrator was or is a child, parent, sibling, grandparent, aunt, uncle, or cousin of a person in a relationship that is described within this subsection.

(B) A suicide of an individual where there were implications that the individual was the victim of domestic violence prior to his or her suicide, including the following circumstances:
(i) The victim had applied for or received a protection order within the 2-year period preceding the suicide;
(ii) The victim had undergone counseling or treatment as a result of being the victim of domestic violence within the 2-year period preceding the suicide; or
(iii) The victim had reported to the police that he or she had been the victim of domestic violence within the 2-year period preceding the suicide.

(4) “Protection order” means an injunction or other order, whether temporary or final, issued by a tribunal for the purpose of preventing violent or threatening acts or harassment against, contact or communication with, or physical proximity to, another individual.