Domestic Violence includes behavior involving violence, threat of violence or conspiracy to commit a criminal offense when committed by one cohabitant against another.  A cohabitant is; an emancipated minor (under 18 and married) or a person 16 years or older and is or was a spouse of other party, is related by blood or marriage to other parties, resides or has resided with other party, or has a child in common with the other party, is the biological parent of the other’s unborn child.  Cohabitant does not include the relationship of parent to minor or relationship of minor siblings to each other.  Domestic Violence can include: assault/aggravated assault (includes assault against a pregnant female), homicide, harassment/telephone harassment, all kidnapping/unlawful detention, mayhem, sexual offenses, stalking, child abuse, property offenses, possession or threat of a dangerous weapon with intent to assault or scare the other person, discharge of a firearm, or protective order violation.
Domestic violence cases can either be felonies or misdemeanors. When deciding how to charge DV cases, the DA’s Office looks at a number of different factors including the nature and severity of the crime, the extent of injury to the victim, the involvement of any weapons, the criminal history of the people involved and, the use of any drug or alcohol, and other aggravating and mitigating factors.

• Class C Misdemeanor             3 months in jail and a fine.
• Class B Misdemeanor             6 months in jail and a fine.
• Class A Misdemeanor             1 year in jail and a fine.
• 3rd Degree Felony                  0 to 5 years in the Utah State Prison.
• 2nd Degree Felony                 1 to 15 years in the Utah State Prison.
• 1st Degree Felony                   5 years to life in the Utah State Prison.

Domestic Violence comes in a Variety of Forms:
Physical Violence: hitting, pushing, choking, scratching, pinching, restraining, slapping, pulling, hitting with weapons or objects, shooting, stabbing, damaging property, pets, or threatening to engage in such aggressive behavior.
Psychological Violence: Intense and repetitive degradation, creating isolation, or controlling the actions or behavior of another person through intimidation or manipulation.
Sexual Violence: Sexual harassment, limiting reproduction freedom, infliction of pain during sexual intimacy, or the use or threat of physical force to make a cohabitant perform a sexual act.
Reporting Domestic Violence
To file a police report, call your local law enforcement agency.
If you wish to contact the Weber County District Attorney’s Office, call (801) 399-8377.
Protective Orders
If a batterer is threatening you and/or your family, you may file for a protective order. For protective order assistance contact:
Society of Utah at (801) 328-8849
Utah State Courts self-help resources www.utcourts.gov/howto/
Second District Court Protective Order Clerk at (801) 395-1079
Second District Court Protective Orders: http://www.utcourts.gov/resources/forms/protectorder/forms.html#Request_Order