Northern Virginia Criminal Justice Academy (NVCJA) Practice Exam

Where would a father be criminally charged if he physically assaulted his daughter in a Loudoun shopping area?

1. In Alexandria

2. Only in federal court

3. In Loudoun

4. At a local juvenile court

The correct answer is: In Loudoun

A father who physically assaults his daughter in a shopping area located in Loudoun would be charged in Loudoun. This is because the location of the crime determines the jurisdiction for legal proceedings. Criminal cases are typically prosecuted in the jurisdiction where the offense occurred. In this instance, since the incident took place in Loudoun, the local court would have the authority to handle the case. Federal court jurisdiction would not apply here, as federal courts generally deal with violations of federal law, not state criminal matters such as domestic assault, which falls under state jurisdiction. Local juvenile court is reserved for cases involving minors, particularly if the case were about an offense committed by a juvenile. Alexandria would not be relevant unless the incident occurred within its boundaries. Thus, the appropriate venue for charging the father is Loudoun, where the assault took place.