Test.
Where does the rule of thumb come from? - CORRECT ANSWER in the 1700's, there was English
common law decreeing a husband could chastise his wife with a whip no bigger than his thumb
Who and when stated that wives charging husbands with criminal assault and battery must suffer more
injuries than commonly needed for charges of battery? - CORRECT ANSWER California Penal Code, 1977
"A person does not commit rape/sexual battery if the victim is the legal spouse of the perpetrator..." = ?
- CORRECT ANSWER limited spousal exclusion (no longer a thing)
What ended the limited spousal exclusion? When? - CORRECT ANSWER Spousal Rape Charges, 1989
_____ of domestic violence cases are misdemeanors. - CORRECT ANSWER 90%
Domestic Violence: Name the 6 most common areas of office liability. - CORRECT ANSWER 1. failure to
take proper actions to protect a citizen, 2. failure to appropriately enforce a court order protecting a
victim of domestic abuse, 3. failure to respond at all or in a timely manner, 4. failure to provide info to a
victim as required by law, 5. arresting a citizen without establishing probable cause, 6. exhibiting a
pattern of differential treatment or application of the law to domestic violence cases
A person commits _____ who: intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly causes bodily injury to another. -
CORRECT ANSWER assault
A person commits _____ who: intentionally, knowingly causes another to reasonably fear imminent
bodily injury. - CORRECT ANSWER assault
A person commits _____ who: intentionally or knowingly causes physical contact with another and a
reasonable person would regard the contact as extremely offensive or provocative. - CORRECT ANSWER
assault
,Assault becomes domestic assault when the relationship falls into what 6 categories? - CORRECT
ANSWER 1. current/former spouses, 2. lived together/have lived together, 3. dating/have dated/who
have had a sexual relationship, 4. related by blood or adoption, 5. related or were formerly related by
marriage, 6. minor children of persons involved in above situations
Charging domestic assault - 1st offense? - CORRECT ANSWER class A misdemeanor
Charging domestic assault - 2nd offense? - CORRECT ANSWER class A misdemeanor and mandatory of
30 days min
Charging domestic assault - 3rd offense if (a) NO suffering of the victim's body and (b) victim IS NOT
defendant's spouse or intimate partner or minor child of spouse or ex? - CORRECT ANSWER class A
misdemeanor and mandatory of 90 days min
Charging domestic assault - 3rd offense and the victim suffers bodily (threatening or offensive touching
does not apply)? - CORRECT ANSWER can be class E felony with 90 days min
Charging domestic assault - 3rd offense and victim is defendant's spouse or intimate partner or minor
child of spouse or ex? - CORRECT ANSWER can be class E felony with 90 days min
If you have 2 prior domestic assault convictions and hit your spouse in the face causing injury, what is
the crime classification? - CORRECT ANSWER class E felony
If you have 2 prior domestic assault convictions and hit your sister in the face causing injury, what is the
crime classification? - CORRECT ANSWER class A misdemeanor
If a LEO has probable cause to believe that a person has committed a crime involving domestic abuse,
whether misdemeanor or felony, in the officer's presence or not, what is the PREFERRED response of the
officer? - CORRECT ANSWER arrest
What should you do if the domestic assault deals with a roommate situation? - CORRECT ANSWER
check with your district for their policy
, Is arrest the appropriate response in domestic violence cases for persons who are not the primary
agressor? - CORRECT ANSWER no
What 6 things can an officer do to determine who is the primary aggressor in domestic assault cases
(abbreviated)? - CORRECT ANSWER 1. domestic abuse history of parties, 2. severity of injuries, 3.
evidence from persons involved, 4. likelihood of future injury, 5. did one person act in self-defense?, 6.
evidence from witnesses
Should you consider a victim's wishes or requests when establishing probable cause of domestic assault?
- CORRECT ANSWER no
Should you consider the willingness of the victim to testify in court when establishing probable cause of
domestic assault? - CORRECT ANSWER no
Should you consider a victim's previous calls for help when establishing probable cause of domestic
assault? - CORRECT ANSWER no
Should you ever threaten to arrest all parties engaged in a domestic violence dispute to discourage
future requests for intervention? - CORRECT ANSWER no
According to TN law - when arresting 2 or more parties on a domestic violence dispute, the officer must
do what? - CORRECT ANSWER document the grounds for arrest in his/her report
Domestic violence according to TN law - what does an officer need to establish about the parties'
injuries? - CORRECT ANSWER whether they're offensive or defensive
Domestic violence according to TN law - what does an officer need to do if complaints are made by 2 or
more parties? - CORRECT ANSWER evaluate each complaint separately for probable cause
When a LEO investigates an allegation that domestic abuse occurred, the officer shall make a complete
report and file the report with his/her supervisor in a manner that will what? - CORRECT ANSWER
permit data on domestic abuse cases to be compiled