More than 1 million women are victims of assault at the hands of an intimate partner every year, according to the National Coalition of Domestic Violence. A lesser reported statistic is how many people are at the other end of the spectrum: falsely accused of domestic violence, or overcharged for an incident.
Allegations of domestic violence are taken very seriously in Minnesota. Being accused of domestic violence can result in instant consequences, before you ever get to tell your side of the story. You can be removed from your home and fired from your job – dramatically changing your life as you know it – before you can defend yourself. If you have been accused of domestic assault, you need to understand your rights and options.
In Minnesota, prosecutors work very hard to get domestic violence convictions. In recent years, charges and convictions have skyrocketed. Convictions rose by 15 percent from 2007 to 2014.
If you are accused of domestic violence, you need to take the charges seriously. Even if your accuser doesn’t want to press charges, the prosecution could move forward. You might think prosecutors have nothing but he-said, she-said evidence, but this has led to convictions in some cases. However, careful analysis of the evidence by a skilled attorney can radically change the outcome of many domestic violence cases.
If convicted, your access to your children could be at stake, as well as your reputation, your career and your right to own a firearm.
The domestic violence charges you face might stem from a simple misunderstanding, an act of revenge or a more complex situation. Whatever your story may be, it is important to talk to an experienced and reputable criminal defense lawyer as soon as possible about your options so that you can make the best decisions about protecting your future.