Domestic/Dating Violence
VAWA Definitions (42 U.S.C. 13925(a)):
Domestic Violence: a felony or misdemeanor crime of violence committed by a current or former spouse or intimate partner of the victim, by a person with whom the victim shares a child in common, by a person who is cohabitating with or has cohabitated with the victim as a spouse, by a person similarly situated to a spouse of the victim under the domestic or family violence laws of the jurisdiction receiving grant monies under VAWA, or by any other person against an adult or youth victim who is protected from that person's acts under the domestic or family violence laws of the jurisdiction.
Dating Violence: Violence committed by a person who is or has been in a social relationship of a romantic or intimate nature with the victim; where the existence of such a relationship is determined based on a consideration of the length of the relationship, the type of the relationship, and the frequency of interaction between the persons involved in the relationship.
Illinois Statutory Definitions
Domestic Violence/Persons Protected (750 ILCS 60/103 and 60/201 (2014)):
Means physical abuse, harassment, intimidation of a dependent, interference with personal liberty or willful deprivation of (1) any person by a family or household member; or (2) any high-risk adult with disabilities by a family or household member; or (3) any minor child or dependent adult in the care of such person; or (4) any person residency or employed at a private home or public shelter which is housing an abused family or household member.
Family or Household Members (750 ILCS 60/103(6) (2014)):
Include spouses, former spouses, parents, children, stepchildren and other persons related by blood or by present or prior marriage, persons who share or formerly shared a common dwelling, persons who have or allegedly have a child in common, persons who share or allegedly share a blood relationship through a child, persons who have or have had a dating or engagement relationship, persons with disabilities and their personal assistants, and caregivers as defined in Section 12-4.4a of the Criminal Code of 2012 [720 ILCS 5/12-4.4a]. For purposes of this paragraph, neither a casual acquaintanceship nor ordinary fraternization between 2 individuals in business or social contexts shall be deemed to constitute a dating relationship. In the case of a high-risk adult with disabilities, "family or household members" includes any person who has the responsibility for a high-risk adult as a result of a family relationship or who has assumed responsibility for all or a portion of the care of a high-risk adult with disabilities voluntarily, or by express or implied contract, or by court order.