How to Fight Domestic Violence Charges

Domestic violence is a large problem that definitely needs considerable attention. However, because of the sensitive nature of these cases, it’s not uncommon for vengeful or toxic partners to make baseless or false claims in order to get their significant other charged with a crime. Unfortunately, fighting back against these charges can be difficult: jury bias is usually a huge factor (especially if the accused is male and the accuser or alleged victim is female), and often times the only evidence that can be presented is the victim’s testimony.

However, you can do a few things to protect yourself. If your spouse or partner begins acting strangely and you suspect that they might be about to make false accusations against you, there are a few things you can do to support your claim to innocence and protect yourself in the event you are falsely accused. Here are three of them.

Lock Your Electronics

Prosecutors and those who are seeking a guilty verdict in domestic violence cases will often look for additional evidence that supports the idea that the defendant was prone to rash or emotional reactions and thus could have reasonably become violent. One of the best pieces of supporting evidence this is electronic communications, such as emails and text messages. Clever and vengeful partners have been known to fabricate this evidence by sending themselves threatening emails from their partner’s address or using their partner’s phone to send them threatening texts. If you suspect you may be falsely accused or your partner begins acting strangely, change your passwords and lock codes as soon as possible.

Spend as Much Time in Public or With Witnesses as Possible

The last thing you want to do is spend a substantial amount of time alone with someone you suspect may try to frame you for domestic violence. When there aren’t any witnesses as to your time together, anything could happen and your case is essentially down to a simple comparison of your testimony, and in domestic violence cases, juries often believe the victim far more than the accused. Having witnesses who can attest to your clean conduct can dispel false accusations brought against you.

Talk to Your Family & Friends

If you suspect your spouse, partner, or significant other might be trying to frame you, it’s important that you get your side of the story out first. Talk to your family and friends as soon as you can and let them know what you’re thinking. Most people are automatically inclined to believe someone when they say they’ve been abused, but those people are also more likely to be skeptical if the alleged abuser talks to them first. Domestic violence accusations can ruin someone’s reputation, so controlling the damage before it starts can actually significantly help your case.