Alex Is there a link between domestic violence and pets?
Many women and children are forced to stay with violent partners because they feel they can’t leave their pets behind. Research shows that there is a link between animal abuse and domestic violence: men who are violent to women may threaten to harm or kill a beloved pet in order to intimidate their partner.
Are there any legal recourse for victims of domestic violence?
The abuser may follow the victim to work, the store, the gym, to doctors’ appointments, to visits with friends or family, or school functions. Victims of domestic violence are protected under state and federal laws. Also, abuse victims may seek additional protections and compensation through both criminal and civil courts.
Are there exceptions to spousal privilege in domestic violence cases?
However, many states have created exceptions to the spousal privilege when one spouse is being tried for committing a crime against the other (such as domestic violence cases). When this exception to the privilege exists, the prosecutor may compel the spouse to testify against the other.
What happens if a domestic violence victim refuses to testify?
And if the victim is a spouse, the prosecutor might not be able to compel their testimony due to spousal privilege. If the prosecutor can’t rely on having the victim’s testimony, they must decide if enough other evidence exists to prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt. What Is Spousal Privilege?
However, many states have created exceptions to the spousal privilege when one spouse is being tried for committing a crime against the other (such as domestic violence cases). When this exception to the privilege exists, the prosecutor may compel the spouse to testify against the other.
And if the victim is a spouse, the prosecutor might not be able to compel their testimony due to spousal privilege. If the prosecutor can’t rely on having the victim’s testimony, they must decide if enough other evidence exists to prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt. What Is Spousal Privilege?
When to drop charges in a domestic violence case?
If the victim claims the defendant severely beat him or her just minutes before police arrived but he/she only has a small red mark on his/her cheek and no swelling or bruising or other apparent injuries, a defense attorney could argue that the victim was likely not telling the truth about the event.
Can a court consider domestic violence in a divorce?
In some jurisdictions, the court may consider domestic abuse when deciding alimony, even if it hasn’t affected the abused spouse’s earning capacity. If your spouse has been abusive, you may have the upper hand in several aspects of the divorce.