Live Free or Die Legal
This website is not an official source of law. This website does not provide legal advice. For official legal materials, verify against the relevant court, legislature, agency, or other official source. Legal information may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrectly processed. Consult a qualified attorney for advice about a specific legal matter.

This RSA section is an unofficial mirror, is not legal advice, and may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrectly processed.

RSA 631:2-b · Domestic Violence

Title
LXII: CRIMINAL CODE
Chapter
631 · ASSAULT AND RELATED OFFENSES
Status
current
Official source linked
Yes
Official source Copy section link

631:2-b Domestic Violence. –

Copy link
I.

A person is guilty of domestic violence if the person commits any of the following against a family or household member or intimate partner:

Copy link
(a)

Purposely or knowingly causes bodily injury or unprivileged physical contact against another by use of physical force;

Copy link
(b)

Recklessly causes bodily injury to another by use of physical force;

Copy link
(c)

Negligently causes bodily injury to another by means of a deadly weapon;

Copy link
(d)

Uses or attempts to use physical force, or by physical conduct threatens to use a deadly weapon for the purpose of placing another in fear of imminent bodily injury;

Copy link
(e)

Threatens to use a deadly weapon against another person for the purpose to terrorize that person;

Copy link
(f)

Coerces or forces another to submit to sexual contact by using physical force or physical violence;

Copy link
(g)

Threatens to use physical force or physical violence to cause another to submit to sexual contact and the victim believes the actor has the present ability to execute the threat;

Copy link
(h)

Threatens to use a deadly weapon to cause another to submit to sexual contact and the victim believes the actor has the present ability to carry out the threat;

Copy link
(i)

Confines another unlawfully, as defined in RSA 633:2, by means of physical force or the threatened use of a deadly weapon, so as to interfere substantially with his or her physical movement;

Copy link
(j)

Knowingly violates a term of a protective order issued pursuant to RSA 173-B:4, I by means of the use or attempted use of physical force or the threatened use of a deadly weapon;

Copy link
(k)

Uses physical force or the threatened use of a deadly weapon against another to block that person's access to any cell phone, telephone, or electronic communication device with the purpose of preventing, obstructing, or interfering with:

Copy link
(1)

The report of any criminal offense, bodily injury, or property damage to a law enforcement agency; or

Copy link
(2)

A request for an ambulance or emergency medical assistance to any law enforcement agency or emergency medical provider.

Copy link
II.

Domestic violence is a class A misdemeanor unless the person uses or threatens to use a deadly weapon as defined in RSA 625:11, V, in the commission of an offense, in which case it is a class B felony.

Copy link
III.

For purposes of this section:

Copy link
(a)

"Family or household member" means:

Copy link
(1)

The actor's spouse or former spouse;

Copy link
(2)

A person with whom the actor is cohabiting as a spouse, parent, or guardian;

Copy link
(3)

A person with whom the actor cohabited as a spouse, parent, or guardian but no longer shares the same residence;

Copy link
(4)

An adult with whom the actor is related by blood or marriage; or

Copy link
(5)

A person with whom the actor shares a child in common.

Copy link
(b)

"Intimate partner" means a person with whom the actor is currently or was formerly involved in a romantic relationship, regardless of whether or not the relationship was sexually consummated.

Copy link
IV.

Upon conviction and sentencing, the court shall document on the sentencing form the specific nature of the relationship between the defendant and the victim, by reference to subparagraphs III(a)(1)-(5) and III(b).

Copy link
V.

In addition to any other penalty authorized by law, the court shall levy a fine of $50 for each conviction under this section. The court shall not reduce or suspend any sentence or the payment of any fine imposed under this section. If the court determines that the defendant is unable to pay the fine on the date imposed, the court may defer payment or order periodic payments thereof. Fines imposed under this section shall not be subject to an additional penalty assessment and shall not be subject to the provisions of RSA 618:8 or 618:9. The clerk shall forward all fines collected under this paragraph to the department of health and human services for the purposes of RSA 173-B:15. Source. 2014, 152:2. 2015, 244:1, eff. July 1, 2015. 2017, 90:6, eff. Jan. 1, 2018.

Copy link

Source note

Source. 2014, 152:2. 2015, 244:1, eff. July 1, 2015. 2017, 90:6, eff. Jan. 1, 2018.

Source history

  • 2014, 152:2
  • 2015, 244:1, eff. July 1, 2015
  • 2017, 90:6, eff. Jan. 1, 2018

Related materials

Bill relationships

  • 2026 HB1158 amend · effective 2027-01-01

    erly involved in a sexual relationship, or in a romantic relationship, whether or not such relationship was ever sexually consummated. 2 Criminal Code; Domestic Violence. Amend RSA 631:2-b, III(b) to read as follows: (b) "Intimate partner" means a person with whom the actor is currently or was formerly involved in a sexual relationship, or in a romantic relationship, regardless of whether or not the re

  • 2026 HB1158-FN amend · effective 2027-01-01

    erly involved in a sexual relationship, or in a romantic relationship, whether or not such relationship was ever sexually consummated. 2 Criminal Code; Domestic Violence. Amend RSA 631:2-b, III(b) to read as follows: (b) "Intimate partner" means a person with whom the actor is currently or was formerly involved in a sexual relationship, or in a romantic relationship, regardless of whether or not the re

  • 2026 HB1454 related

    r of protection issued pursuant to RSA 173-B or other order issued in connection with a domestic violence case; or (B) The defendant is also charged with domestic violence under RSA 631:2-b. 3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage. LBA 26-2883 11/17/25 HB 1454-FN- FISCAL NOTE AS INTRODUCED AN ACT relative to the possession of firearms following a court orde

  • 2026 HB1454-FN related

    r of protection issued pursuant to RSA 173-B or other order issued in connection with a domestic violence case; or (B) The defendant is also charged with domestic violence under RSA 631:2-b. 3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage. LBA 26-2883 11/17/25 HB 1454-FN- FISCAL NOTE AS INTRODUCED AN ACT relative to the possession of firearms following a court orde

  • 2026 HB1464 amend · effective 2027-01-01

    felony if it results in actual economic harm, such as loss of employment, or involves a threat of physical violence. 7 New Section; Politically Motivated Interference. Amend RSA 631 by inserting after section 4-b the following new section: 631:4-c Politically Motivated Interference. I. A person is guilty of politically motivated interference if, with the purpose to harass or intimidate base

  • 2026 HB1464-FN amend · effective 2027-01-01

    felony if it results in actual economic harm, such as loss of employment, or involves a threat of physical violence. 7 New Section; Politically Motivated Interference. Amend RSA 631 by inserting after section 4-b the following new section: 631:4-c Politically Motivated Interference. I. A person is guilty of politically motivated interference if, with the purpose to harass or intimidate base

  • 2026 HB1509 reference · effective 2027-01-01

    liable for civil negligence if all of the following are met: (a) The criminal defendant being released pursuant to RSA 597 is being released: (1) For an alleged violation of RSA 631:2-b. (2) For any alleged felony. (3) For any offense alleged to have occurred while the defendant was released on bail in another matter. (b) The criminal defendant commits a subsequent criminal offense or intentional

  • 2026 HB1509-FN reference · effective 2027-01-01

    liable for civil negligence if all of the following are met: (a) The criminal defendant being released pursuant to RSA 597 is being released: (1) For an alleged violation of RSA 631:2-b. (2) For any alleged felony. (3) For any offense alleged to have occurred while the defendant was released on bail in another matter. (b) The criminal defendant commits a subsequent criminal offense or intentional

  • 2026 HB1547 amend · effective 2027-01-01

    h the defendant and finds that the defendant has knowingly, voluntarily, and intelligently waived his or her right to a jury trial. 2 New Section; Assault Prosecutions. Amend RSA 631 by inserting after section 2-b the following new section: 631:2-c Assault Prosecutions. I. In any prosecution for a violation of RSA 631:2-a or 631:2-b, which is charged as a class A misdemeanor in the circuit c

  • 2026 HB1547-FN amend · effective 2027-01-01

    h the defendant and finds that the defendant has knowingly, voluntarily, and intelligently waived his or her right to a jury trial. 2 New Section; Assault Prosecutions. Amend RSA 631 by inserting after section 2-b the following new section: 631:2-c Assault Prosecutions. I. In any prosecution for a violation of RSA 631:2-a or 631:2-b, which is charged as a class A misdemeanor in the circuit c

  • 2026 HB1556 amend · effective 2027-01-01

    3 New Paragraph; Sentences and Limitations. Amend RSA 651:2 by inserting after paragraph II-h the following new paragraph: II-i.(a) Any person convicted of an offense under RSA 631:2-b, where the state also proves that the offense was committed in the presence of a child under 18 years of age, shall be subject to the following enhanced penalties: (1) If the underlying domestic violence offense is

  • 2026 HB1556-FN amend · effective 2027-01-01

    3 New Paragraph; Sentences and Limitations. Amend RSA 651:2 by inserting after paragraph II-h the following new paragraph: II-i.(a) Any person convicted of an offense under RSA 631:2-b, where the state also proves that the offense was committed in the presence of a child under 18 years of age, shall be subject to the following enhanced penalties: (1) If the underlying domestic violence offense is

Opinions and discipline decisions mentioning this RSA