Even if your relationship is mostly calm, you know your partner can be unpredictable. During an argument, he or she may scream at you or even assault you. If someone calls the police, your partner even may claim you have assaulted him or her.
Regardless of whether your partner’s accusations are untrue, you may find yourself in handcuffs. Even worse, prosecutors may file domestic violence charges against you. Therefore, it is critical for you to have a strategy for dealing with false domestic violence accusations.
Understand you are not alone
While your situation may be extremely stressful, you are far from alone. In fact, according to the Center for Prosecution Integrity, more than 20 million Americans have faced false domestic violence allegations. Even if prosecutors and those closest to you tend to believe accusers, untrue accusations are not exactly rare.
Find legal counsel
Before questioning you, officers typically must advise you of your Miranda Rights, including the consequences of talking to them. Before saying anything to the police or anyone else, it is advisable to discuss your situation with an experienced attorney. After all, there are plenty of innocent individuals sitting behind bars because of incriminating statements they made.
Avoid the accuser
While it may be tempting to meet with your accuser, doing so may do more harm than good. The same may be true for any social media posts you make about the incident. Therefore, it is usually advisable to avoid interacting with or mentioning your accuser. Remember, if your partner has a protective order, violating the order is likely to have catastrophic consequences.
Ultimately, even though false domestic violence accusations can be frustrating, how you respond to them may make the difference between dropped charges or an acquittal and a life-changing conviction.
