Myths about Domestic Violence in California

1. Myths About Domestic Violence In California

2. Violence... Undoubtedly, domestic violence is a very serious matter. In fact, in California alone, law enforcement agencies receive more than 150,000 domestic violence calls every year.

3. Accused Of Domestic Violence People accused of domestic violence often fail in their efforts to mount a successful defense for two reasons: • The police, district attorneys, and prosecutors treat domestic violence claims seriously and almost always side with the victim. • And the second reason is that there are many myths that have been misleading both the accusers and accused in domestic violence cases.

4. Common Myths In California

5. Domestic Violence Protections Are Broader People in Los Angeles and all across California wrongly believe that domestic violence protections extend only to spouses. Apart from spousal battery and physical abuse of a spouse, domestic violence laws in California also protect current and former members of a household, as well as current and former intimate partners and cohabitants.

6. Verbal Abuse Is Just As Bad As Physical Abuse If you only told your spouse “I will kill you” but did not physically abuse him or her, it does not necessarily mean that you are out of harm’s way. In fact, verbal abuse against a spouse, member of a household, intimate partner and cohabitant is just as serious as physical abuse, according to California laws.

7. DV Claims From Cohabitants Are Taken Seriously, Too Domestic violence allegations from spouses, partners, and cohabitants are treated equally seriously by the police, district attorneys, and prosecutors. According to California law, a “cohabitant” is someone who is unrelated to you but has been living with you for “a substantial period of time, resulting in some permanency of the relationship.”

8. Case Cannot Be Dismissed Even If The Accuser Drops The Charges In the past, a person accused of domestic violence coerced the accuser to drop the charges, which resulted in the dismissal of the case. But lawmakers in California have revised the law ever since, and now only the prosecutor can press charges or dismiss the case. Typically, a domestic violence case can be dismissed if your Los Angeles domestic violence defense attorney can show evidence that the accusations are false or exaggerated, or you were acting in self-defense.

9. Get Arrested For Spousal Or Partner Abuse?

10. Getting arrested on suspicion of domestic violence does not make you guilty. There is still a way to protect your rights, mount a criminal defense, avoid or reduce the penalties, and fight for your freedom and dignity. Get legal advice from the best domestic violence defense lawyers in California here at the Okabe & Haushalter law firm.

11. MANHATTAN BEACH ADDRESS: 1230 Rosecrans Avenue, Suite 300 Manhattan Beach, CA 90266 SAN FRANCISCO ADDRESS: One Sansome Street, Suite 3500 San Francisco, CA 94104 Phone: (818) 722-3452 Fax: 310-316-2306 Talk To Okabe & Haushalter Contact the legal team at Okabe & Haushalter and schedule a free consultation to discuss your case.