Definitions. The following terms are defined solely for the purpose
of this policy:
ABUSER/PERPETRATOR
An individual who commits or threatens to commit an act of
domestic violence, including unwarranted violence against individuals
and animals. Other abusive behaviors and forms of violence can include
the following: bullying, humiliating, isolating, intimidating, harassing,
stalking, or threatening the victim, disturbing someone's peace, or
destroying someone's property.
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
Acts or threatened acts that are used by a perpetrator to
gain power and control over a current or former spouse, family member,
household member, intimate partner, someone the perpetrator dated,
or person with whom the perpetrator shares a child in common or anticipates
having a child in common if one of the parties is pregnant. Domestic
violence includes, but is not limited to, the following: physical
violence; injury; intimidation; sexual violence or abuse; emotional
and/or psychological intimidation; verbal abuse; threats; harassment;
cyber harassment; stalking; economic abuse or control; damaging property
to intimidate or attempt to control the behavior of a person in a
relationship with the perpetrator; strangulation; or abuse of animals
or pets.
HUMAN RESOURCES OFFICER (HRO)
An employee of a public employer with a human resources job
title, or its equivalent, who is responsible for orienting, training,
counseling, and appraising staff; persons designated by the employer
as the primary or secondary contact to assist employees in reporting
domestic violence incidents.
INTIMATE PARTNER
Partners of any sexual orientation or preference who have
been legally married or formerly married to one another, have a child
or children in common, or anticipate having a child in common if one
party is pregnant. Intimate partner also includes those who live together
or have lived together, as well as persons who are dating or have
dated in the past.
TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER (TRO)
A civil court order issued by a judge to protect the life,
health or well-being of a victim. TROs can prohibit domestic violence
offenders from having contact with victims, either in person or through
any means of communication, including third parties. TROs also can
prohibit offenders from a victim's home and workplace. A violation
of a TRO may be a criminal offense. A TRO will last approximately
10 business days, or until a court holds a hearing to determine if
a final restraining order (FRO) is needed. In New Jersey, there is
no expiration of an FRO.
VICTIM
A person who is 18 years of age or older or who is an emancipated
minor and who has been subjected to domestic violence by a spouse,
former spouse, or any other person who is a present household member
or was at any time a household member. A victim of domestic violence
is also any person, regardless of age, who has been subjected to domestic
violence by one of the following actors: a person with whom the victim
has a child in common; a person with whom the victim anticipates having
a child in common, if one of the parties is pregnant; and a person
with whom the victim has had a dating relationship.
WORKPLACE-RELATED INCIDENTS
Incidents of domestic violence, sexual violence, dating violence,
and stalking, including acts, attempted acts, or threatened acts by
or against employees, the families of employees, and/or their property,
that imperil the safety, well-being, or productivity of any person
associated with a public employee in the State of New Jersey, regardless
of whether the act occurred in or outside the organization's physical
workplace. An employee is considered to be in the workplace while
in or using the resources of the employer. This includes, but is not
limited to, facilities, work sites, equipment, vehicles, or while
on work-related travel.