TCA 39-13-111
Domestic assault
What does this charge mean?
Domestic assault is when someone commits assault (hitting, attacking, threatening, or attempting to injure) against a domestic abuse victim—which includes current or former spouses, people living together, dating partners, family members by blood or marriage, or children of people in these relationships. Punishment depends on whether it's a first or second offense and the method used, ranging from the same penalties as basic assault to enhanced felony charges for repeat offenses.
Penalty Details
(a) As used in this section, “domestic abuse victim” means any person who falls within the following categories: (a)(38) or a specific statute exists covering the same or similar conduct. See Tennessee Code 39-11-106State: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the several territories of the United States. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105(1) Adults or minors who are current or former spouses; (2) Adults or minors who live together or who have lived together; (3) Adults or minors who are dating or who have dated or who have or had a sexual relationship, but does not include fraternization between two (2) individuals in a business or social context; (4) Adults or minors related by blood or adoption; (5) Adults or minors who are related or were formerly related by marriage; or (6) Adult or minor children of a person in a relationship that is described in subdivisions (a)(1)-(5). (b) A person commits domestic assault who commits an assault as defined in § 39-13-101 against a domestic abuse victim. (c) (1) A first conviction for domestic assault and a second or subsequent conviction for domestic assault committed in a manner prohibited by § 39-13-101(a)(2) and (a)(3) is punishable the same as assault under § 39-13-101, and additionally, as provided in subdivisions (c)(2) and (c)(3) and subsections (d) and (e) of this section. (2) A second conviction for domestic assault committed in a manner prohibited by § 39-13-101(a)(1) is punishable by a fine of not less than three hundred fifty dollars ($350) nor more than three thousand five hundred dollars ($3,500), and by confinement in the county jail or workhouse for not less than thirty (30) consecutive days, nor more than eleven (11) months and twenty-nine (29) days. (3) A third or subsequent conviction for domestic assault committed in a manner prohibited by § 39-13-101(a)(1) is punishable by a fine of not less than one thousand one hundred dollars ($1,100) nor more than five thousand dollars ($5,000), and by confinement in the county jail or workhouse for not less than ninety (90) consecutive days, nor more than eleven (11) months and twenty-nine (29) days; provided, however, that if the domestic assault victim’s relationship with the defendant falls within the categories defined in subdivision (a)(1) or (a)(3), or the victim is the minor child of any person in such categories, and the defendant has at least two (2) prior convictions for domestic assault committed in a manner prohibited by § 39-13-101(a)(1) prior to or at the time of committing the offense, the offense is a Class E felony, with a mandatory confinement of not less than ninety (90) consecutive days in the county jail or workhouse. (4) For purposes of this section, a person who is convicted of a violation of § 39-13-111 committed in a manner prohibited by § 39-13-101(a)(1), shall not be subject to the enhanced penalties prescribed in this subsection (c), if ten (10) or more years have elapsed between the date of the present violation and the date of any immediately preceding violation of § 39-13-111, committed in a manner prohibited by § 39-13-101(a)(1), that resulted in a conviction for such offense. (5) In addition to any other punishment that may be imposed for a violation of this section, if, as determined by the court, the defendant possesses the ability to pay a fine in an amount not in excess of two hundred twenty-five dollars ($225), then the court shall impose a fine at the level of the defendant’s ability to pay, but not in excess of two hundred twenty-five dollars ($225). The additional fine shall be paid to the clerk of the court imposing sentence, who shall transfer it to the state treasurer, who shall credit the fine to the general fund. All fines so credited to the general fund shall be subject to appropriation by the general assembly for the exclusive purpose of funding family violence shelters and shelter services. This appropriation shall be in addition to any amount appropriated pursuant to § 67-4-411. (6) If a defendant pleads guilty or is found guilty of a domestic violence offense, as defined by this section or in § 40-14-109, the judge shall immediately order that the defendant: (A) Terminate physical possession of all firearms in the defendant’s possession within forty-eight (48) hours of the conviction by any lawful means, such as transferring possession to a third party who is not prohibited from possessing firearms; and (B) (i) Complete an affidavit of firearms dispossession form and return it to the court in which the defendant was convicted when all firearms have been lawfully dispossessed as required by subdivision (c)(6)(A); (ii) The defendant may obtain the affidavit of dispossession from the court or court clerk or the defendant may be directed to obtain a copy from the website of the administrative office of the courts. (7) In addition to all other fines, fees, costs, and punishments now prescribed by law, the court s
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