The State of Georgia defines the offense of domestic violence as any felony, battery, assault, stalking, criminal damage to property, unlawful restraint or criminal trespass between two past or present spouses, parents of the same child and foster children, stepparents and stepchildren, foster parents and foster children or other person(s) living or formerly living in the same household.

Abuse refers to any act that is intended to cause or result in harm to another person. Included in these acts are verbal putdowns and name calling on one extreme, to pushing, slapping, rape and murder on the other extreme. The frequency of the abuse is not an indicator of whether or not an act is abusive. Whether the act occurs only once or repeatedly, it is still abuse.

Stalking is also a form of domestic violence. Stalking is when a person willfully, maliciously and repeatedly follows or harasses another person, and who makes a threat with the intent of placing that person in imminent fear of death or serious bodily injury.

As with all crimes, when you report a stalking incident it is extremely important to know the date, time, place, and circumstances of the incidents and to be able to list any witnesses to the act.