Domestic violence is in essence a battery, which is the unwanted touching of another person, for example, a push, a shove, a slap or a punch. The basic battery is elevated to “domestic violence” when the victim is in a “special relationship” with the defendant. The special relationship is defined by law, and you are in a “special relationship” with the alleged victim if they are your current or former spouse, boyfriend, girlfriend, roommate, someone you have a child in common with, or someone related through marriage. A charge of domestic violence is particularly troubling to employers and prospective employers not only because it involves violence, but because of the special relationship. These protected persons are people in particular that we should all behave in a better manner with, more so than mere strangers.