Domestic violence is one of the most tragic and terrifying things that a person can experience. It turns what should be someone’s personal sanctuary, their home, the place that they deserve to feel most safe, into a nightmare that causes them pain and suffering. It is for this reason that courts understandably treat domestic violence accusations very seriously. However, it is important to remember that, just like any other criminal charge, you can defend yourself against domestic violence charges.
According to the FBI, nearly 12,000 women were killed between 2001 and 2008 by a domestic abuser, almost twice the amount of military members killed in Iraq and Afghanistan. Last year alone, a county in Florida saw 581 cases of domestic violence reported. Statistics indicate that one-third of women will contend with domestic abuse in their lifetime, a tragic number that is entirely too high.
Unfortunately, some law enforcers are too zealous in their pursuit of reducing these numbers, which can lead to innocent people being wrongly punished.
Being accused and convicted of domestic violence can have dramatic and devastating consequences on your life. It can keep you from interacting with your children and your partner, and it can even keep you out of your own home. For this reason, it is extremely important that you take domestic violence charges as seriously as the courts do and defend yourself appropriately.
Depending on the type of charges you face, it can change many aspects of your case. The severity of the accusations could bring your consequences from inability to contact your children to fines or even jail time. As such, it is highly recommended that you consult with an attorney as soon as you learn that you are being charged. The earlier you begin preparing your defense, the better chance you have of being acquitted.
Source: CBS12, “Troubling Domestic Violence Statistics,” Melissa Howell, Dec. 15, 2014
