If someone accuses you of domestic violence, it puts a series of events in motion that will throw your life into chaos. The speed at which it happens may shock you.
Let’s say you and your spouse arrive home from work after stressful days and end up arguing over something minor. The tension escalates and you end up shouting at each other. A neighbor hears you and fearing things have got out of hand decides to call the police. When the officers arrive, they might accept that it is only a verbal disagreement and tell you to calm it down. If, however, they think you pose a threat to your partner, they might arrest you or ask your partner if they want to file for a temporary protective order.
If the officers are unsure about the seriousness of the situation, they will likely act on the theory that it is better to be safe than sorry.
Can someone change their mind about a domestic violence accusation?
If your police arrest you or your spouse seeks a protection order, a judge could bar you from going near your house or seeing your children. A court can issue an interim emergency protection order within hours, even during the night when the courts are closed.
If your partner changes their mind by the next day, you may still face prosecution. Some victims retract their statements in fear of their abuser, so the authorities again tend to err on the side of caution to protect the accuser.
When events happen at such speed, you must act with urgency to counter them. Without legal help, you may find your world in chaos and your future on the line before you know it.