708.2A Domestic abuse assault -- mandatory minimums, penalties enhanced -- extension of no-contact order.
1. For the purposes of this chapter, "domestic abuse assault" means an assault, as defined in section 708.1, which is domestic abuse as defined in section 236.2, subsection 2, paragraph "a", "b", "c", or "d".

2. On a first offense of domestic abuse assault, the person commits:

a. A simple misdemeanor for a domestic abuse assault, except as otherwise provided.

b. A serious misdemeanor, if the domestic abuse assault causes bodily injury or mental illness.

c. An aggravated misdemeanor, if the domestic abuse assault is committed with the intent to inflict a serious injury upon another, or if the person uses or displays a dangerous weapon in connection with the assault. This paragraph does not apply if section 708.6 or 708.8 applies.

3. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 2, on a second domestic abuse assault, a person commits:

a. A serious misdemeanor, if the first offense was classified as a simple misdemeanor, and the second offense would otherwise be classified as a simple misdemeanor.

b. An aggravated misdemeanor, if the first offense was classified as a simple or aggravated misdemeanor, and the second offense would otherwise be classified as a serious misdemeanor, or the first offense was classified as a serious or aggravated misdemeanor, and the second offense would otherwise be classified as a simple or serious misdemeanor.

4. On a third or subsequent offense of domestic abuse assault, a person commits a class "D" felony.

708.1 Assault defined.
An assault as defined in this section is a general intent crime. A person commits an assault when, without justification, the person does any of the following:

1. Any act which is intended to cause pain or injury to, or which is intended to result in physical contact which will be insulting or offensive to another, coupled with the apparent ability to execute the act.

2. Any act which is intended to place another in fear of immediate physical contact which will be painful, injurious, insulting, or offensive, coupled with the apparent ability to execute the act.

3. Intentionally points any firearm toward another, or displays in a threatening manner any dangerous weapon toward another.
Source:  Iowa Code

• There were 7,047 reported cases of domestic violence in 2005. This is an 8% increase from 2004.
• Of the 7,047 victims in 2005, 19% were male and 81% were female. Of the 7,200 offenders, 81% were male and 19% were female.
• 41% of the 7,047 victims of domestic abuse in 2005 were between the ages of 20 and 29. 652 of the victims were less than 20 years of age.
• 49% of the victims were cohabitants of the abusers. An additional 26% were the wives of the abusers.
• 866 forcible rapes were reported in Iowa in 2005.
• Domestic and other romantic disputes accounted for the largest combined category (34%) of murder circumstances in 2005.

"Definitions" of domestic violence contained in state laws are furnished for information purposes only.  No one at Life's New Beginnings is an attorney and we are not attempting to render any legal interpretation of domestic violence laws in any state.  We are reading the statutes and giving our own opinions.

State laws can change regularly and individual state resources should be consulted for the most current statutes and definitions.