§ 19-13-10.Definitions

Chapter 13. Family Violence · Article 1A. Family Violence Intervention · Last amended 2015 · Last verified October 9, 2026

In one sentenceO.C.G.A. § 19-13-10 defines the key terms in Georgia’s family violence intervention program law, including which relationships and offenses count as family violence and which court-ordered programs — batterer intervention, anger management and others — qualify.

Full Text of § 19-13-10

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As used in this article, the term:

(1) “Commission” means the State Commission on Family Violence.

(2) “Commissioner” means the commissioner of community supervision.

(3) “Department” means the Department of Community Supervision.

(4) “Family or household members” means past or present spouses, persons who are parents of the same child, or other persons living or formerly living in the same household.

(5) “Family violence” means the commission of the offenses of battery, simple battery, simple assault, assault, stalking, criminal damage to property, or criminal trespass between family or household members.

(6) “Family violence intervention program” or “program” means any program that is certified by the Department of Community Supervision pursuant to Code Section 19-13-14 and designed to rehabilitate family violence offenders. Such term shall include, but shall not be limited to, batterer intervention programs, anger management programs, anger counseling, family problem resolution, and violence therapy.

End

Plain-English Summary

Article 1A of Chapter 13 governs family violence intervention programs — the courses courts order people to complete after family violence. This section sets the vocabulary. The “commission” is the State Commission on Family Violence; the “commissioner” is the commissioner of community supervision; and the “department” is the Department of Community Supervision.

The article’s definition of family violence is narrower than the protective-order definition in § 19-13-1. “Family or household members” means past or present spouses, parents of the same child, or other people living or formerly living in the same household — the separate listings for parents and children, stepfamilies and foster families don’t appear. And “family violence” here means battery, simple battery, simple assault, assault, stalking, criminal damage to property or criminal trespass between those members. It leaves out unlawful restraint and the catch-all for any felony.

A “family violence intervention program,” or “program,” is one certified by the Department of Community Supervision under § 19-13-14 and designed to rehabilitate family violence offenders. The term includes, but isn’t limited to, batterer intervention programs, anger management programs, anger counseling, family problem resolution and violence therapy. Section 19-13-16 says when courts must order participation, and § 19-13-15 lets the department and the State Board of Pardons and Paroles run their own programs. The section was last amended in 2015.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a family violence intervention program in Georgia?

It is a program certified by the Department of Community Supervision under § 19-13-14 and designed to rehabilitate family violence offenders. The term includes, but isn’t limited to, batterer intervention programs, anger management programs, anger counseling, family problem resolution and violence therapy. Courts order participation under § 19-13-16.

Is anger management the same as a family violence intervention program in Georgia?

Anger management programs fall within the definition, but only as part of a program certified by the Department of Community Supervision under § 19-13-14. The definition starts with certification. Under § 19-13-15, courts may also accept programs the department or the State Board of Pardons and Paroles runs. A court order will say what the person must complete.

Who certifies family violence intervention programs in Georgia?

The Department of Community Supervision. This section defines a family violence intervention program as one the department certifies under § 19-13-14. The department also administers certified programs under § 19-13-13, and the State Commission on Family Violence helps set the standards.

Does family violence mean the same thing throughout Georgia’s family violence laws?

No. For intervention programs, this section limits family violence to battery, simple battery, simple assault, assault, stalking, criminal damage to property or criminal trespass between family or household members. The protective-order definition in § 19-13-1 also includes any felony and unlawful restraint, and covers more relationships. The shelter article uses yet another definition in § 19-13-20.

Who counts as a family or household member for Georgia intervention programs?

Past or present spouses, people who are parents of the same child, and other people living or formerly living in the same household. That list is shorter than the one in § 19-13-1, which also names parents and children, stepparents and stepchildren, and foster parents and foster children.

Amendment History

Laws 2002, p. 1435, § 3; Laws 2015, Act 73, § 5-46, eff. July 1, 2015.

Source & verification. Section text and amendment history are reproduced verbatim from the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, enacted by the Georgia General Assembly, and checked word for word against the Georgia Code Revision Commission’s public-domain edition and the acts that later amended it. Section headings are the Code’s official catchlines. Last verified October 9, 2026. · Official source

Also known as: family violence intervention program georgiafvip georgiabatterer intervention program georgiacourt ordered anger management georgiadepartment of community supervision fvip