Domestic Abuse Information

Iowa's domestic abuse law is defined in Chapter 236 of the Iowa Code. When the Sheriff's Department responds to a domestic abuse situation, the officer will attempt to identify the primary physical aggressor. Arrests are made after consideration of injuries, threats made, history of the persons involved, and circumstances of the incident. Iowa law mandates that police make arrests under certain circumstances.

VICTIM RIGHTS INFORMATION

HOTLINE INFORMATION


Definition of Domestic Abuse Under Iowa Law

"Domestic abuse" means committing assault as defined in section 708.1 under any of the following circumstances:
a. The assault is between family or household members who resided together at the time of the assault.
b. The assault is between separated spouses or persons divorced from each other and not residing together at the time of the assault.
c. The assault is between persons who are parents of the same minor child, regardless of whether they have been married or have lived together at any time.
d. The assault is between persons who have been family or household members residing together within the past year and are not residing together at the time of the assault.
e. The assault is between persons who are in an intimate relationship or have been in an intimate relationship and have had contact within the past year of the assault. In determining whether persons are or have been in an intimate relationship, the court may consider the following nonexclusive list of factors:
(1) The duration of the relationship.
(2) The frequency of interaction.
(3) Whether the relationship has been terminated.
(4) The nature of the relationship, characterized by either party's expectation of sexual or romantic involvement.
A person may be involved in an intimate relationship with more than one person at a time.