Personal Injury Lawyer
When you hear “domestic abuse” it is common to think of a couple, married or otherwise. However, domestic violence cases arise from more than just verbal and physical dispute amongst lovers. It is important to understand what constitutes a domestic violence criminal offense so that you can avoid being charged. Even if you are not someone who is committing a domestic violence offense, it is good to know what they are so that you may use the proper term if you happen to witness a domestic abuse situation and want to contact law enforcement. To build a defense in the event that you have been charged with a domestic abuse offense it is good to know why the charge was given and why or if it is valid.
Domestic abuse comes in many forms, and not all forms are physical. Some domestic abuse charges arise from emotional abuse, which many people view as more harmful than some physical abuse. It is more common to occur with a current domestic partner, or even a past partner or a caregiver. Domestic abuse is any physical, emotional, or sexual act against an individual or individuals with the intent to harm, control, degrade or coerce them.
Emotional domestic abuse is strictly mental. Any harsh words or name-calling that is intended to hurt a victim, is considered domestic abuse. This may be looked at as bullying with everything but your body. Using the power of your tongue and words to cause emotional harm to another person.
Physical domestic abuse is quite obvious. This involves any physical contact, it can be directly from the abuser or an object they use. Physical contact may be in the form of pushing, pulling, punching, or slapping, amongst several other things.
Sexual domestic abuse occurs when an abuser forces themselves on another individual without their consent. This occurs in marriage as well, no documentation is enough for consent unless that documentation is consent itself. Sexual abuse becomes domestic abuse if it is by a past, or present domestic partner or caregiver.
There are several other forms of domestic abuse, and no matter if you are a victim or an accused, it is best to speak with a skilled criminal defense attorney that will be able to make it clear what the charge is and what options are available to you. If you or someone you know has been domestically abused or has been accused as such, speak with a skilled Decatur criminal lawyer for clarity as soon as possible.
Thanks to Andrew R. Lynch, P.C. for their insight into criminal defense and domestic abuse.