Domestic violence is unlike any other criminal offense. While most accusations require evidence to press charges, domestic violence can be charged with nothing more than the word of someone who claims they’re a victim. This means you don’t necessarily need specific or demonstrable evidence in order for accusations to be taken seriously, and this leads to an immense amount of false allegations issued with the intent of harming someone’s reputation or having them locked away purely out of selfish spite.

Want to avoid falling victim to false allegations of domestic violence? We want to help you. Read on to learn more about this issue and how to properly prepare yourself so you can effectively fight back if someone ever attempts to frame you for this crime.

Why Are These Charges So Serious?

There is an unfortunately-high serious injury and fatality rate from instances of domestic violence, which has led law enforcement, justice departments, and courts across the country to increase the seriousness with which they handle these types of cases. While this is good for protecting victims, it has also opened the door for ill-meaning or nefarious individuals to throw these accusations around in order to either get them in trouble or to gain leverage over them.

Unfortunately, because the standard of evidence is so much lower for these charges than it is for any other crime, it’s almost certain that the word of the “victim” will be accepted with little to no further investigation, leading to the arrest and charging of the accused. Domestic violence can carry serious criminal and family law consequences, and there’s not much of an opportunity to fight back, which leads to many convictions for crimes that were never committed.

How to Protect Yourself

Protecting yourself from false domestic violence charges is imperative. Not only do those who face these charges often also face serious scrutiny and resentment from the general public (often entirely unsubstantiated and based on nothing more than rumors), but you face an uphill battle trying to demonstrate your innocence and that the accusations were false.

So what can you do to cut these accusations off and preserve your name and reputation? Simple: effectively combat your case on the grounds you’re given. If you’ve had a restraining order levied against you, follow its terms at all times. Know your accuser’s testimony and be prepared to point out the factual inaccuracies in it using evidence available to you.

Finally, you need to have someone on your side who’s dedicated to helping you preserve your rights and freedoms. A Reno criminal defense attorney who’s familiar with false domestic violence allegations is invaluable to helping you effectively argue against your prosecution and work to disprove your accuser’s false statements against you. Having an ally on your side who knows the law and can carefully put the evidence available to work for you can help you rest assured you’re giving yourself the best possible chance at a positive outcome that clears your name of these charges.

If you’re being falsely accused of domestic violence, don’t hesitate to call the Law Offices of Kenneth A. Stover today at (775) 502-1575 for a case evaluation!