In the last 16 years, several western Washington cities have enacted municipal ordinances creating a new domestic violence criminal offense: Exposing a Minor to Domestic Violence.

These cities are Edmonds, Marysville, Everett, Renton and Tukwila. Their municipal codes make it a gross misdemeanor offense to commit domestic violence in the immediate vicinity of a minor, Witnessing domestic violence is defined as a child seeing, hearing, or directly perceiving an act of domestic violence in any way. See, e.g., Edmonds City Code 5.34.031.C.1.b and 2. Most of these city ordinances include mandatory jail time.

Snohomish, WA Criminal Defense Lawyers

Contact Lynnwood criminal defense lawyer Paul Hanson for more information.