As a Minnesota Criminal Defense Attorney, I get loads of calls about domestic violence/assault charges. Here is an article from the Huffington Post that sets for a number of things anybody facing allegations of this nature should consider.
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Domestic violence is an important public health issue, and one which
has been gaining increased attention in recent years on a variety of
fronts, particularly with respect to professional athletes. States, of
course, have various approaches for dealing with the issue, including
housing and employment protections, protecting the identity of residents
of domestic violence shelters, and broadening the definition of abuse.
One
of the areas where states are falling short, according to experts, is
in focusing on at-risk demographic groups. Different groups face
different risks when it comes to domestic violence investigation.
For instance, African American women are more likely to
be killed by a partner than victims in other groups, whereas women who
are unable to speak English are more likely to be unable to communicate
to police officers to give an accurate version of incidents. Hispanic
women are less likely to seek help from a shelter, while Native American
women are more likely to be in a situation where police are unable to
arrest a battering partner. Each of these unique challenges has to be
met if the problem is to be adequately addressed.
As important as
it is to ensure protection for those who suffer at the hands of an
abusive partner, though, it is also important to remember that those
accused of domestic violence have a right to defend themselves from
unjust charges. Because of the nature of domestic violence
investigations, it can and does sometimes happen that officers fail to
gather the evidence necessary to make an accurate judgment about an
incident. In some cases, those errors are not corrected and the accused
face charges that don’t accurately reflect the events that took place.
Those
who have been unjustly accused of domestic violence need to know that
they don’t just have to succumb to the criminal process, but that they
have rights. Working with an experienced Minnesota Criminal Defense Attorney can
help to ensure that all the evidence is presented in their case and that
they are able to take advantage of protections available to them.
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Source: Huffington Post, “
When It Comes to Handling Domestic Violence Cases, States Are Still Falling Short,” Teresa Wiltz, September 22, 2014.
If you or someone you love is facing a court date, feel free to contact the Rolloff Law Office and set up a free consultation: (612) 234-1165
