Consistently charge intimate partner violence as a felony.

 

The purpose of this bill is to have intimate partner violence (or IPV) always charged as a felony as opposed to a

misdemeanor. Although IPV is already charged as a felony in some cases, this bill calls for it to always be charged as

such. This could help bring a higher sense of justice for survivors of IPV, given that felonies call for harsher

punishments than misdemeanors which could have their offenders face more time behind bars, loss of certain rights and

heavy fines.

 

In Minnesota, on an offender's first domestic violence charge, in a standard scenario they will receive a misdemeanor

charge which can cause them to face up to ninety days of jail time and a one thousand ($1000.00) fine. On the second

charge, if it has been within the last ten years, the offender usually receives a gross misdemeanor charge which can

grant up to 364 days of jail time and a three thousand ($3000.00) fine. In Minnesota, it isn't until the third

occurrence or when a deadly weapon is used that offenders have domestic violence counted on their record as a felony.

Felonies possess much more intense consequences as misdemeanors, such as five to twenty years in jail dependent on

circumstances. In the United States every minute about twenty people are abused by an intimate partner and forty one

(41) percent of women will experience mental, physical, or sexual abuse from an intimate partner in their life time.

 

‘Misdemeanor’ Any minor offense bringing a lesser punishment than a felony.

‘Felony’ A major crime as murder, arson, etc.

‘Intimate Partner Violence’ Intimate partner violence refers to behaviour within an intimate relationship that causes

physical, sexual or psychological harm, including acts of physical aggression, sexual coercion, psychological abuse and

controlling behaviours.

 

Implementing this bill would not cost any money.

 

If a perpetrator is found guilty of committing violent acts against a partner, they will be charged with a felony which

entails anywhere from 5-20 years in prison and causes them to lose their right to own a gun, vote in elections, and

serve on a jury.

 

This bill will be enacted June 1st 2026