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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>72208</law_id><section_number>18.2-57.2</section_number><catch_line>Assault and battery against a family or household member; penalty</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>15.2-1705</reference><reference>15.2-1707</reference><reference>16.1-253.4</reference><reference>16.1-278.8</reference><reference>16.1-309.1</reference><reference>16.1-69.55</reference><reference>17.1-213</reference><reference>17.1-805</reference><reference>18.2-46.1</reference><reference>18.2-57.3</reference><reference>18.2-57.4</reference><reference>19.2-11.01</reference><reference>19.2-151</reference><reference>19.2-299</reference><reference>19.2-392.02</reference><reference>19.2-392.12</reference><reference>19.2-81.3</reference><reference>22.1-289.038</reference><reference>37.2-314</reference><reference>37.2-408.1</reference><reference>37.2-416</reference><reference>37.2-416.1</reference><reference>37.2-506</reference><reference>37.2-506.1</reference><reference>52-35</reference><reference>53.1-202.3</reference><reference>53.1-40.02</reference><reference>63.2-1726</reference><reference>63.2-901.1</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="18.2">Crimes and Offenses Generally</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="4">Crimes Against the Person</unit><unit label="article" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="4">Assaults and Bodily Woundings</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> Any person who commits an <span class="dictionary">assault</span> and <span class="dictionary">battery</span> against a family or household member is guilty of a Class 1 <span class="dictionary">misdemeanor</span>. <a id="paragraph-260141" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/18.2-57.2/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> Upon a <span class="dictionary">conviction</span> for <span class="dictionary">assault</span> and <span class="dictionary">battery</span> against a family or household member, where it is alleged in the warrant, <span class="dictionary">petition</span>, information, or <span class="dictionary">indictment</span> on which a person is convicted, that such person has been previously convicted of two <span class="dictionary">offenses</span> against a family or household member of (i) <span class="dictionary">assault</span> and <span class="dictionary">battery</span> against a family or household member in violation of this section, (ii) <span class="dictionary">malicious</span> wounding or unlawful wounding in violation of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Shooting, stabbing, etc., with intent to maim, kill, etc" href="/18.2-51/">18.2-51</a>, (iii) aggravated <span class="dictionary">malicious</span> wounding in violation of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Aggravated malicious wounding; penalty" href="/18.2-51.2/">18.2-51.2</a>, (iv) <span class="dictionary">malicious</span> bodily injury by means of a substance in violation of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Malicious bodily injury by means of any caustic substance or agent or use of any explosive or fire" href="/18.2-52/">18.2-52</a>, (v) strangulation in violation of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Strangulation or suffocation of another; penalty" href="/18.2-51.6/">18.2-51.6</a>, or (vi) an <span class="dictionary">offense</span> under the <span class="dictionary">law</span> of any other <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span> which has the same elements of any of the above <span class="dictionary">offenses</span>, in any combination, all of which occurred within a period of 20 years, and each of which occurred on a different date, such person is guilty of a Class 6 <span class="dictionary">felony</span>. <a id="paragraph-260142" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/18.2-57.2/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> Whenever a warrant for a violation of this section is issued, the <span class="dictionary">magistrate</span> shall <span class="dictionary">issue</span> an emergency protective <span class="dictionary">order</span> as authorized by &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Emergency protective orders authorized in certain cases; penalty" href="/16.1-253.4/">16.1-253.4</a>, except if the <span class="dictionary">defendant</span> is a <span class="dictionary">minor</span>, an emergency protective <span class="dictionary">order</span> shall not be required. <a id="paragraph-260143" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/18.2-57.2/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> The definition of &#x201C;family or household member&#x201D; in &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Definitions" href="/16.1-228/">16.1-228</a> applies to this section. <a id="paragraph-260144" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/18.2-57.2/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>1991, c. 238; 1992, cc. 526, 886; 1996, c. 866; 1997, c. 603; 1999, cc. 697, 721, 807; 2004, cc. 448, 738; 2009, c. 726; 2014, c. 660.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
