RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — Richmond Police report an increase in domestic assault cases, with Chief Rick Edwards attributing the rise in part to changes in how these crimes are classified. Domestic violence advocates say the changes are helping survivors access legal protections and connect with criti cal resources. “Where we’re struggling when it comes to violent crime is domestic violence,” Edwards said during a quarterly crime briefing on Tuesday, October 13. According to data shared by the Richmond Police Department, the city had recorded 1,010 domestic assault cases in 2026 at the time of the briefing -- compared with 907 at the same point in 2025. Edwards said domestic violence is also a significant factor in homicides. “We focus on violent crime with gun violence, but domestic violence is the number two reason we’re seeing in motives for murders,” Edwards said. Changes to Virginia law have expanded the definition of who qualifies as a "family or household member" by adding "intimate partner." As a result, some incidents previously classified as other types of assault are now being recorded as domestic violence. “The General Assembly wanted this to be tracked more appropriately by people that are just dating,” Edwards said. “So you can date someone for a short amount of time. There is no limit. And if you abuse that person, we’re tracking that as a simple domestic assault or aggravated domestic assault.” Penny Page, manager of sexual and domestic violence services at Safe Harbor, said the changes are helping authorities more accurately classify these cases. “For the most part, these cases were being reported in the past,” Page said. “It’s not that they have not been reported in the past, for the most part. It’s that they’re being reported differently.” Virginia law also recognizes strangulation in domestic violence cases as a form of aggravated domestic assault under applicable circumstances. Page said specifically recognizing strangulation is important, because research has identified it as a serious indicator of potential future violence. “There is a lot of research and evidence showing that people who commit crimes that involve strangulation with crimes of domestic violence, they really are the most dangerous people in our community,” Page said. She said addressing these incidents appropriately could help prevent further violence against survivors and others in the community. Beyond how cases are classified, the expanded legal framework has changed where certain cases are handled. Some cases that previously went through General District Courts are now handled by Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Courts, where judges and staff have more experience with family violence and intimate partner abuse. Page said that shift can make a significant difference for survivors navigating the legal system. “Everybody in that Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court system has a real, comprehensive understanding of how this kind of violence unfolds,” she said. Safe Harbor also has staff at the courthouse to help survivors understand the process and connect with services. Page said the organization has increased its staffing at court to accommodate the additional cases. “Now that all these new cases are at JDR, we’re able to actually connect with those folks and we can get them really life-changing resources like help with housing, help with that emergency safe place to stay if they need to get out of the house today, financial assistance, we can get them mental health care, all kinds of things that benefit them so much,” Page said. She added that survivors may be more likely to seek help when they have confidence their cases will be handled fairly and by people who understand the complexities of domestic violence. Page said service providers are also seeing more complex cases involving financial hardship and other challenges. She said rising housing and grocery costs can make it harder for survivors to leave abusive relationships and establish independent lives. Despite those challenges, she said the expanded legal framework offers an important opportunity to reach more people. “I do think overall it is really a good thing because we are able to actually meet more of these people who need our help or get them the help that they need,” Page said. People who need support can contact the Greater Richmond Regional Domestic Violence Hotline at 804-612-6126, which is available 24 hours a day. ...read more read less