diff --git a/persistence/src/main/java/edu/msudenver/tsp/persistence/controller/DefinitionController.java b/persistence/src/main/java/edu/msudenver/tsp/persistence/controller/DefinitionController.java
index 720e5df..b89f5b7 100644
--- a/persistence/src/main/java/edu/msudenver/tsp/persistence/controller/DefinitionController.java
+++ b/persistence/src/main/java/edu/msudenver/tsp/persistence/controller/DefinitionController.java
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 package edu.msudenver.tsp.persistence.controller;
 
 import edu.msudenver.tsp.persistence.dto.Definition;
+import edu.msudenver.tsp.persistence.exception.BadRequestException;
+import edu.msudenver.tsp.persistence.exception.UnprocessableEntityException;
 import edu.msudenver.tsp.persistence.repository.DefinitionRepository;
 import edu.msudenver.tsp.utilities.PersistenceUtilities;
 import lombok.AllArgsConstructor;
@@ -21,6 +23,7 @@ import java.util.Optional;
 @RestController
 @AllArgsConstructor
 @RequestMapping(path = "/definitions")
+@Validated
 public class DefinitionController {
     private final DefinitionRepository definitionRepository;
 
@@ -45,11 +48,12 @@ public class DefinitionController {
 
     @GetMapping("/{id}")
     public @ResponseBody
-    ResponseEntity<Definition> getDefinitionById(@PathVariable("id") final Integer id) {
+    ResponseEntity<Definition> getDefinitionById(@PathVariable("id") final Integer id)
+            throws BadRequestException {
         LOG.info("Received request to query for definition with id {}", id);
         if (id == null) {
-            LOG.error("ERROR: ID was null");
-            return new ResponseEntity<>(HttpStatus.BAD_REQUEST);
+            LOG.error("ERROR: ID cannot be null");
+            throw new BadRequestException("ERROR: ID cannot be null");
         }
 
         LOG.debug("Querying for definition with id {}", id);
@@ -77,16 +81,17 @@ public class DefinitionController {
     @Validated({Definition.Insert.class, Default.class})
     public @ResponseBody ResponseEntity<Definition> insertDefinition(
             @Valid @RequestBody final Definition definition,
-            final BindingResult bindingResult) {
+            final BindingResult bindingResult)
+            throws UnprocessableEntityException, BadRequestException {
         LOG.info("Received request to insert a new definition");
         if (bindingResult.hasErrors()) {
             LOG.error("Binding result is unprocessable");
-            return new ResponseEntity<>(HttpStatus.UNPROCESSABLE_ENTITY);
+            throw new UnprocessableEntityException(bindingResult.getAllErrors().toString());
         }
 
         if (definition == null) {
             LOG.error("Passed entity is null");
-            return new ResponseEntity<>(HttpStatus.BAD_REQUEST);
+            throw new BadRequestException("Passed definition is be null");
         }
 
         LOG.debug("Saving new definition");
@@ -106,22 +111,22 @@ public class DefinitionController {
     @PatchMapping("/{id}")
     public @ResponseBody ResponseEntity<Definition> updateDefinition(
             @PathVariable("id") final Integer id,
-            @RequestBody final Definition definition, final BindingResult bindingResult) {
+            @RequestBody final Definition definition, final BindingResult bindingResult) throws UnprocessableEntityException, BadRequestException {
 
         LOG.info("Received request to update an account");
         if (bindingResult.hasErrors()) {
             LOG.error("Binding result is unprocessable");
-            return new ResponseEntity<>(HttpStatus.UNPROCESSABLE_ENTITY);
+            throw new UnprocessableEntityException(bindingResult.getAllErrors().toString());
         }
 
         if (definition == null) {
             LOG.error("Passed entity is null");
-            return new ResponseEntity<>(HttpStatus.BAD_REQUEST);
+            throw new BadRequestException("Passed definition is null");
         }
 
         if (id == null) {
             LOG.error("Definition ID must be specified");
-            return new ResponseEntity<>(HttpStatus.BAD_REQUEST);
+            throw new BadRequestException("Definition ID must be specified");
         }
 
         LOG.debug("Checking for existence of definition with id {}", id);
@@ -137,7 +142,7 @@ public class DefinitionController {
 
         if (!existingDefinition.isPresent()) {
             LOG.error("No definition associated with id {}", id);
-            return new ResponseEntity<>(HttpStatus.BAD_REQUEST);
+            return new ResponseEntity<>(HttpStatus.NOT_FOUND);
         }
 
         PersistenceUtilities.copyNonNullProperties(definition, existingDefinition.get());
@@ -158,11 +163,11 @@ public class DefinitionController {
     }
 
     @DeleteMapping("/{id}")
-    public @ResponseBody ResponseEntity<Void> deleteDefinitionById(@PathVariable("id") final Integer id) {
+    public @ResponseBody ResponseEntity<Void> deleteDefinitionById(@PathVariable("id") final Integer id) throws BadRequestException {
         LOG.info("Received request to delete definition with id {}", id);
         if (id == null) {
             LOG.error("Specified id is null");
-            return new ResponseEntity<>(HttpStatus.BAD_REQUEST);
+            throw new BadRequestException("Specified ID is null");
         }
 
         LOG.debug("Deleting definition with id {}", id);
diff --git a/persistence/src/test/java/edu/msudenver/tsp/persistence/controller/DefinitionControllerTest.java b/persistence/src/test/java/edu/msudenver/tsp/persistence/controller/DefinitionControllerTest.java
index 4b7fa77..492002f 100644
--- a/persistence/src/test/java/edu/msudenver/tsp/persistence/controller/DefinitionControllerTest.java
+++ b/persistence/src/test/java/edu/msudenver/tsp/persistence/controller/DefinitionControllerTest.java
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 package edu.msudenver.tsp.persistence.controller;
 
 import edu.msudenver.tsp.persistence.dto.Definition;
+import edu.msudenver.tsp.persistence.exception.BadRequestException;
+import edu.msudenver.tsp.persistence.exception.UnprocessableEntityException;
 import edu.msudenver.tsp.persistence.repository.DefinitionRepository;
 import org.junit.Test;
 import org.junit.runner.RunWith;
@@ -48,7 +50,7 @@ public class DefinitionControllerTest {
     }
 
     @Test
-    public void testGetDefinitionsById() {
+    public void testGetDefinitionsById() throws BadRequestException {
         final Definition definition = createDefinition();
         when(definitionRepository.findById(anyInt())).thenReturn(Optional.ofNullable(definition));
 
@@ -62,18 +64,13 @@ public class DefinitionControllerTest {
         verify(definitionRepository).findById(anyInt());
     }
 
-    @Test
-    public void testGetDefinitionById_nullId() {
-        final ResponseEntity responseEntity = definitionController.getDefinitionById(null);
-
-        assertNotNull(responseEntity);
-        assertFalse(responseEntity.hasBody());
-        assertEquals(HttpStatus.BAD_REQUEST, responseEntity.getStatusCode());
-        verifyZeroInteractions(definitionRepository);
+    @Test(expected = BadRequestException.class)
+    public void testGetDefinitionById_nullId() throws BadRequestException {
+        definitionController.getDefinitionById(null);
     }
 
     @Test
-    public void testGetDefinitionById_noDefinitionFound() {
+    public void testGetDefinitionById_noDefinitionFound() throws BadRequestException {
         when(definitionRepository.findById(anyInt())).thenReturn(Optional.empty());
 
         final ResponseEntity responseEntity = definitionController.getDefinitionById(1);
@@ -85,7 +82,7 @@ public class DefinitionControllerTest {
     }
 
     @Test
-    public void testInsertDefinition() {
+    public void testInsertDefinition() throws BadRequestException, UnprocessableEntityException {
         final Definition definition = createDefinition();
         when(definitionRepository.save(any(Definition.class))).thenReturn(definition);
 
@@ -99,31 +96,21 @@ public class DefinitionControllerTest {
         verify(definitionRepository).save(any(Definition.class));
     }
 
-    @Test
-    public void testInsertDefinition_definitionDtoIsNull() {
-        final ResponseEntity responseEntity = definitionController.insertDefinition(null, bindingResult);
-
-        assertNotNull(responseEntity);
-        assertFalse(responseEntity.hasBody());
-        assertEquals(HttpStatus.BAD_REQUEST, responseEntity.getStatusCode());
-        verifyZeroInteractions(definitionRepository);
+    @Test(expected = BadRequestException.class)
+    public void testInsertDefinition_definitionDtoIsNull() throws BadRequestException, UnprocessableEntityException {
+        definitionController.insertDefinition(null, bindingResult);
     }
 
-    @Test
-    public void testInsertDefinition_bindingResultHasErrors() {
+    @Test(expected = UnprocessableEntityException.class)
+    public void testInsertDefinition_bindingResultHasErrors() throws BadRequestException, UnprocessableEntityException {
         final Definition definition = createDefinition();
         when(bindingResult.hasErrors()).thenReturn(true);
 
-        final ResponseEntity responseEntity = definitionController.insertDefinition(definition, bindingResult);
-
-        assertNotNull(responseEntity);
-        assertFalse(responseEntity.hasBody());
-        assertEquals(HttpStatus.UNPROCESSABLE_ENTITY, responseEntity.getStatusCode());
-        verifyZeroInteractions(definitionRepository);
+        definitionController.insertDefinition(definition, bindingResult);
     }
 
     @Test
-    public void testUpdateDefinition() {
+    public void testUpdateDefinition() throws BadRequestException, UnprocessableEntityException {
         final Definition existingDefinition = createDefinition();
         existingDefinition.setId(1);
         existingDefinition.setVersion(1);
@@ -144,52 +131,37 @@ public class DefinitionControllerTest {
         verify(definitionRepository).save(any(Definition.class));
     }
 
-    @Test
-    public void testUpdateDefinition_bindingResultErrors() {
+    @Test(expected = UnprocessableEntityException.class)
+    public void testUpdateDefinition_bindingResultErrors() throws BadRequestException, UnprocessableEntityException {
         when(bindingResult.hasErrors()).thenReturn(true);
 
-        final ResponseEntity<Definition> responseEntity = definitionController.updateDefinition(1, createDefinition(), bindingResult);
+        definitionController.updateDefinition(1, createDefinition(), bindingResult);
+    }
 
-        assertNotNull(responseEntity);
-        assertFalse(responseEntity.hasBody());
-        assertEquals(HttpStatus.UNPROCESSABLE_ENTITY, responseEntity.getStatusCode());
-        verifyZeroInteractions(definitionRepository);
+    @Test(expected = BadRequestException.class)
+    public void testUpdateDefinition_definitionDtoIsNull() throws BadRequestException, UnprocessableEntityException {
+        definitionController.updateDefinition(1, null, bindingResult);
+    }
+
+    @Test(expected = BadRequestException.class)
+    public void testUpdateDefinition_idIsNull() throws BadRequestException, UnprocessableEntityException {
+        definitionController.updateDefinition(null, createDefinition(), bindingResult);
     }
 
     @Test
-    public void testUpdateDefinition_definitionDtoIsNull() {
-        final ResponseEntity<Definition> responseEntity = definitionController.updateDefinition(1, null, bindingResult);
-
-        assertNotNull(responseEntity);
-        assertFalse(responseEntity.hasBody());
-        assertEquals(HttpStatus.BAD_REQUEST, responseEntity.getStatusCode());
-        verifyZeroInteractions(definitionRepository);
-    }
-
-    @Test
-    public void testUpdateDefinition_idIsNull() {
-        final ResponseEntity<Definition> responseEntity = definitionController.updateDefinition(null, createDefinition(), bindingResult);
-
-        assertNotNull(responseEntity);
-        assertFalse(responseEntity.hasBody());
-        assertEquals(HttpStatus.BAD_REQUEST, responseEntity.getStatusCode());
-        verifyZeroInteractions(definitionRepository);
-    }
-
-    @Test
-    public void testUpdateDefinition_definitionDoesntExist() {
+    public void testUpdateDefinition_definitionDoesntExist() throws BadRequestException, UnprocessableEntityException {
         when(definitionRepository.findById(anyInt())).thenReturn(Optional.empty());
 
         final ResponseEntity<Definition> responseEntity = definitionController.updateDefinition(1, createDefinition(), bindingResult);
 
         assertNotNull(responseEntity);
         assertFalse(responseEntity.hasBody());
-        assertEquals(HttpStatus.BAD_REQUEST, responseEntity.getStatusCode());
+        assertEquals(HttpStatus.NOT_FOUND, responseEntity.getStatusCode());
         verify(definitionRepository, times(0)).save(any(Definition.class));
     }
 
     @Test
-    public void testDeleteDefinitionById() {
+    public void testDeleteDefinitionById() throws BadRequestException {
         doNothing().when(definitionRepository).deleteById(anyInt());
 
         final ResponseEntity responseEntity = definitionController.deleteDefinitionById(1);
@@ -200,14 +172,9 @@ public class DefinitionControllerTest {
         verify(definitionRepository).deleteById(anyInt());
     }
 
-    @Test
-    public void testDeleteDefinitionById_nullId() {
-        final ResponseEntity responseEntity = definitionController.deleteDefinitionById(null);
-
-        assertNotNull(responseEntity);
-        assertFalse(responseEntity.hasBody());
-        assertEquals(HttpStatus.BAD_REQUEST, responseEntity.getStatusCode());
-        verifyZeroInteractions(definitionRepository);
+    @Test(expected = BadRequestException.class)
+    public void testDeleteDefinitionById_nullId() throws BadRequestException {
+        definitionController.deleteDefinitionById(null);
     }
 
     private Definition createDefinition() {