Domestic violence is hard to define because there is no crime called "domestic violence" in New York State law. Domestic violence is handled through the courts as a "family offense." A family offense is defined as certain acts/crimes in the Penal Law. Below is a list of crimes and what they mean:
| Name of Act/Crime | What it Means |
|---|---|
| Assault | Hit, punch,kick, throw things at, or use a weapon against |
| Stalking | Follow, monitor, or track |
| Harassment | Repeatedly do something that causes alarm or distress and serves no useful purpose |
| Aggravated Harassment | Repeatedly do something that causes alarm or distress and serves no useful purpose by using electronic means, like a phone or computer
|
| Menacing | Threatening to harm with or without a weapon |
| Reckless Endangerment | Putting the person in a dangerous position that might cause physical injury |
| Strangulation/Criminal Obstruction of Breathing or Circulation | Strangle or choke, putting hand on the neck and squeezing even slightly; blocking nose or mouth |
| Disorderly Conduct | Behavior that disturbs others, like drunken yelling or fighting |
| Criminal Mischief | Destroy or take property without permission, even if it is property that you own together. Examples: breaking a cell phone or scratching a car |
| Sexual Abuse/Sexual Misconduct/Forcible Touching | Any unwanted sexual conduct |
| Intimidation | Actions or words that make someone afraid or force them to do something or stop them from doing something |
| Threats | Words said to make someone afraid |
| Identity Theft | Using someone’s personal information or credit without their permission |
| Grand Larceny | Taking someone’s property worth more than $1,000.00, without their permission and with no intent to return it |
| Coercion | Trying to prevent someone from doing something that they have the legal right to do |
| Any other violation of the Penal Law |