Domestic Violence Law & Public Policy

There are many policies and laws that govern how the legal and court systems respond to domestic and intimate partner violence cases. Take a look below for National and Statewide laws that pertain to domestic violence.

Federal

Domestic Violence Offender Gun Ban

• Domestic Violence Offender Gun Ban Factsheet
• The Omnibus Consolidated Appropriations Act of 1997 text

Full Faith and Credit Given to Protection Orders

• Full Faith and Credit law text
• National Center on Protection Orders and Full Faith & Credit

Immigrant Survivors of Intimate Partner Violence

• Self-Petitioning for Battered Immigrant Women and Children law text

Interstate Domestic Violence

• Interstate Domestic Violence law text

Interstate Stalking

• Interstate Stalking law text

Interstate Violation of Protection Order

• Interstate Violation of Protection Order law text

The Victim’s of Crime Act (VOCA)

• The Office for Victims of Crime
• Crime Victim’s Fund Factsheet

The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA)

• VAWA Factsheet
• The Violence Against Women Act (2013 re-authorization)

National Law Reference Resources

• Battered Women’s Justice Project
• Laws on Violence Against Women (Womenshealth.gov)
• Domestic Violence Laws (US Department of Justice)

State

California Penal Codes that Pertain to Domestic Violence

• Sections 240-248 text
• Sections 270-273.75 text

State Law Reference Resources

• WomensLaw.org
• California Courts Domestic Violence Self Help