Definitions of Domestic Violence - Salt River Pima-Maricopa

Defined in Domestic Violence Civil Laws

This issue is not addressed in the Tribal codes reviewed.

Defined in Child Abuse Reporting and Child Protection Laws

This issue is not addressed in the Tribal codes reviewed.

Defined in Criminal Laws
Citation: Tribal Code § 10-253

A person commits 'domestic violence' by any of the following actions: 

• Intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly causing any physical injury to a family member, spouse, or intimate partner
• Intentionally placing a family member, spouse, or intimate partner in reasonable apprehension of imminent physical injury
• Knowingly touching a family member, spouse, or intimate partner with the intent to injure, insult, or provoke such person

A person commits 'aggravated domestic violence' if the person commits domestic violence under any of the following circumstances: 

• If the person causes serious physical injury to a victim
• If the person uses a deadly weapon or dangerous instrument against the victim
• If the victim is bound or otherwise physically restrained
• If the victim's capacity to resist is substantially impaired
• If the victim was pregnant at the time of the offense
• If a child was present at the time of the offense
• If the person commits the offense by strangling, suffocating, or attempting to strangle or suffocate the victim

If the person has two or more prior convictions for domestic violence or aggravated domestic violence within 10 years

'Strangling' means intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly impeding the normal breathing or circulation of the blood of a person by applying pressure to the throat or neck, regardless of whether that conduct results in any visible injury or whether there is any intent to kill or protractedly injure the victim.

'Suffocating' means intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly impeding the normal breathing of a person by covering the mouth of the person, the nose of the person, or both, regardless of whether that conduct results in any visible injury or whether there is any intent to kill or protractedly injure the victim.

Persons Included in the Definitions
Citation: Tribal Code § 10-252

'Family member' means a parent, child, or person similarly situated to a parent or child.

The term 'spouse or intimate partner' means an adult or minor person related as any of the following: 

• A spouse or former spouse of the abuser
• A person who shares a child in common with the abuser
• A person who cohabits or has cohabitated as a spouse with the abuser
• A person who is or has been in a social relationship of a romantic or intimate nature with the abuser, as determined by the length of the relationship, the type of relationship, and the frequency of interaction between the persons involved in the relationship