Domestic violence is a serious issue. Each year, millions of women—and men—are subjected to physical abuse by a spouse or partner. Oftentimes, abuse victims suffer in silence, declining to seek medical treatment or file criminal charges. In recent years, increased attention has been focused on this issue as advocacy groups, government agencies and the media have taken steps to bring it out of the shadows. These efforts have dramatically improved or even saved the lives of many victims. However, one unanticipated side effect of these efforts has been an increase in the number of false claims of abuse.
It is estimated that 700,000 individuals are wrongfully arrested for domestic violence each year. Many more false accusations are made in the context of divorces, custody disputes, or unstable relationships. Allegations of domestic violence holds very serious consequences for the accused party, even those who are falsely accused. False accusations of domestic violence can affect one’s life indefinitely and result in monetary fines, legal expenses, loss of employment, loss of parental rights, and even jail time. Beyond these harsh punishments, even proof of innocence can be unsuccessful in repairing the accused’s life or reputation.
When faced with the possibility of false charges of abuse, you must act immediately before any damage has been done. Ideally, this means preemptively preventing accusations before they are made and paying close attention to some of the most common warning signs.
Ask yourself these questions:
- Is your partner emotionally unstable?
- Are you having relationship problems?
- Can you sense your spouse posturing in a way that might lead them to resort to false claims of abuse?
- Is there is a lot at stake in your relationship? (money, kids, etc.)
If you have answered “yes” to even one of these questions, there are some steps that you can take to avoid a situation in which you are blind-sided by false accusations.
- Protect your valuables, including your important papers.
- Notify family and friends about possible concerns—you are more likely to be believed before false claims arise
- Protect your personal information and electronic data and profiles by changing your cell phone, computer, and on-line passwords
- Consult with a domestic violence attorney
False accusations of domestic violence can result in serious criminal charges, civil claims, and life altering results. With so much to lose, you want to hire an experienced lawyer to advise you of your rights and counsel you on your options. If you sense that you may be charged with false allegations of domestic violence, call Lisa Pelosi today at 917-670-7063 for a free consultation. As former NYC prosecutor with over 30 years of experience, Lisa knows all the steps needed to prevent and defend against false accusations.
