Assault and battery of a family/household member under 18.2-57.2 is which classification?

Assault and battery of a family/household member under 18.2-57.2 is which classification?

• A. 18.2-57.2; Class 1 misdemeanor
• B. 18.2-57; Class 2 misdemeanor
• C. 19.2-81.3(B); Felony
• D. 16.1-228; Infraction

Answer: (A)

Virginia treats assault and battery against a family or household member as a dedicated domestic-violence offense. The specific statute is 18.2-57.2, and this offense is classified as a Class 1 misdemeanor. That places it at the higher end of misdemeanors, with penalties that typically include up to 12 months in jail and a substantial fine. The “.2” in the citation signals the domestic/household relationship element, which is what differentiates this offense from the general assault and battery provisions. The other options don’t fit because they point to different statutes or categories: a general assault and battery statute for non-domestic cases, a different provision that can involve protective orders or more serious outcomes, or an infraction unrelated to domestic violence. So the correct pairing is the domestic-violence statute with the Class 1 misdemeanor classification.

Virginia treats assault and battery against a family or household member as a dedicated domestic-violence offense. The specific statute is 18.2-57.2, and this offense is classified as a Class 1 misdemeanor. That places it at the higher end of misdemeanors, with penalties that typically include up to 12 months in jail and a substantial fine. The “.2” in the citation signals the domestic/household relationship element, which is what differentiates this offense from the general assault and battery provisions.

The other options don’t fit because they point to different statutes or categories: a general assault and battery statute for non-domestic cases, a different provision that can involve protective orders or more serious outcomes, or an infraction unrelated to domestic violence. So the correct pairing is the domestic-violence statute with the Class 1 misdemeanor classification.