Texas Domestic Violence Arrest On The Rise

The Dallas Morning News has a story on the annual Crimes Against Women’s Conference which begins today. Family violence advocates, prosecutors and police officers meet all week to train in different aspects of prosecuting domestic violence cases. The conference is a reflection of a growing trend seen across the nation which encourages aggressive prosecution.

Most of the larger district attorney offices in Texas have set up special units which handle domestic violence cases. The units have family violence advocates who contact the complaining witness and file protective orders on their behalf. Prosecutors push for convictions and try to avoid dismissals of cases.

Domestic violence charges are very serious. A family violence finding can prevent a criminal record from being sealed and can also seriously impact a person’s custody rights in a divorce proceeding. Law enforcement officers will always make an arrest when their is an accusation and once charges are filed it can be difficult to have them dismissed.

If you have been arrested on a domestic violence charge meet with a criminal attorney and learn what your rights are under the law. It is important to consult with a lawyer before you discuss the case with anyone else an experienced criminal attorney can explain to you how the court system works and the best way to proceed in your case.