California Correctional Lieutenant Practice Exam

If a 17-year-old is in a dating relationship and is assaulted by her 16-year-old partner, is this classified as domestic violence?

1. Yes, because of physical harm

2. No, because the defendant is underage

3. Yes, since it involves a dating relationship

4. No, because they are both minors

The correct answer is: No, because the defendant is underage

In the context of domestic violence, the classification of an incident involving minors can be complex. A critical factor that determines whether something is classified as domestic violence is the nature of the relationship between the individuals involved. Dating violence or domestic violence is generally defined as a pattern of abusive behavior in a relationship used by one partner to gain or maintain control over another partner. Therefore, the fact that there is a dating relationship between the two individuals is significant. In this case, even though both individuals are minors, the dynamics of their relationship—specifically that one partner assaulted the other—potentially meet the criteria for recognizing the incident as domestic violence. The relationship itself, along with the reported incident of assault, indicates a potential pattern of abusive behavior that the law recognizes, regardless of the ages of the individuals involved. Consequently, the correct answer is that this situation can indeed be classified as domestic violence because it involves a dating relationship, and one partner was assaulted by the other. This understanding aligns with the broader legal definitions surrounding domestic violence that apply to both adults and minors.