West Virginia Crimes

Even if you do not qualify for a protective order, the abuser may have committed a crime. If you call the police, they may arrest him/her for a crime and you may get a restraining order through the criminal court. Remember that even if you do have a protective order, you can still report him/her to the police if you believe s/he committed a crime against you.

In our Abuse Using Technology section, you can learn the types of behaviors that are considered a misuse of technology. Some of these behaviors might be recognized as a crime depending on the specific laws of your state.

What are some crimes that the abuser may have committed in West Virginia?
If I am the victim of a crime, where can I get additional help in West Virginia?

What are some crimes that the abuser may have committed in West Virginia?

Here is a list of some possible crimes in West Virginia that the abuser may have committed. You can click on the links to read the legal definition of each crime on our State Statutes page:

• falsely reporting child abuse
• malicious or unlawful assault; assault; battery
• harassment
• stalking
• domestic violence
• strangulation; suffocation and asphyxiation
• concealment or removal of minor child from custodian or from person entitled to visitation
• kidnapping
• obscene, anonymous, harassing, repeated and threatening telephone calls
• obscene, anonymous, harassing and threatening communications by computer
• criminal invasion of privacy; penalties
• nonconsensual disclosure of private intimate images
• identity theft
• financial exploitation of an elderly person, protected person, or incapacitated adult.

If I am the victim of a crime, where can I get additional help in West Virginia?

The State of West Virginia runs a Victim Assistance Program, which provides information on victims’ rights and services.

For information on victims’ compensation in West Virginia, visit the Crime Victims Compensation Fund website.

If you are a victim of domestic violence and have been charged with a crime, you can go to our Abuse Victims Charged with Crimes page.

Other organizations for victims of crime are listed on our National Organizations - Crime Victims page.