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.