CALIFORNIA CRIMINAL LAWYERS

Los Angeles Domestic Violence

Why False Claims of Domestic Violence are on the Rise in Los Angeles

Domestic violence is a serious crime that affects millions of individuals across the United States every year. To address this pressing issue, California lawmakers and government officials have been taking measures to combat domestic violence more aggressively in recent years. However, the consequence of this is that more Los Angeles residents are being charged with domestic violence for alleged crimes that never even transpired.

False domestic violence cases usually arise from “he said, she said” incidences, where a minor argument between partners is blown out of proportion. It is quite common for a partner to call the police over a trivial incident and lie or exaggerate about what really happened. This can potentially lead to wrongful accusations and frivolous charges being pressed against innocent individuals. It is not surprising that anyone who has been falsely accused of domestic violence may need to hire a criminal defense lawyer.

Once the police are called in, they often make arrests to fulfill their obligation. The authorities will typically give the woman claiming to be the victim the benefit of the doubt. The police rarely take both parties’ version of the incident into account. Even if the alleged victim was the one who initiated the physical altercation, the man’s explanation of events usually falls on deaf ears. Authorities typically arrest men, even if they are innocently defending themselves and may themselves have visible injuries.

In Los Angeles, domestic violence charges usually carry serious punishments. If you are found guilty of domestic violence, your sentence might include jail or prison time or hefty fines. Furthermore, the conviction may also result in the loss of custody of your children. Innocence alone may not save you from being convicted and sentenced harshly. Even worse, you cannot expect your girlfriend or wife to simply drop the charges against you.

Most women believe they can make a 911 call to accuse someone falsely of domestic violence as a way of teaching their significant other a lesson and then drop the charges later. Unfortunately, this is not possible as only the District Attorney or the prosecutor’s office can determine if charges will be dropped. Prosecutors usually have one goal, which is to secure as many convictions as possible; achieving a high success rate makes them look good. Dropping charges may tarnish this reputation.

Due to the perception that judges and juries are sympathetic to domestic violence victims, they also tend to believe prosecution’s claims more than defense. This bias makes it more challenging for a defendant to clear their name, even when they are innocent of the purported crime. Falsely accused individuals inevitably suffer the consequences of a shoddy legal system that cares more about image than justice.

If you have been arrested or charged with a domestic violence crime in Los Angeles, you need to contact an experienced criminal defense lawyer as soon as possible. A solid defense can be the difference between walking free or being wrongly convicted. Judges and prosecutors are only human and are prone to errors, but a skilled attorney can identify these loopholes and establish a case in your favor.

Table 1: The Consequences of Domestic Violence Charges

Table 2: How Charges Affect Individuals