The holiday season sees a record amount of “family time” as loved ones gather together to commemorate the end of the year and the coming new year.
However, reunions for some families will not be a happy occasion due. Tragically, the season that celebrates peace and goodwill represents a period where accusations of abuse are reported more than at any other time during the year.
December-driven stressors
The holidays can be stressful and involve financial difficulties in paying for gifts and a traditional holiday meal.
Sadly, many abusers take that anxiety out on their partners or other family members during the final month of the year. Colorado Springs-based TESSA is currently experiencing a 46% increase in the number of abuse victims they serve, from 15,000 to 22,000.
While the abuse commonly involves physical acts, abusers are purportedly taking advantage of the continuing COVID-related issues that see victims isolated from others. Instead of hitting, partners employ emotional tactics, threatening to cough on their victims, claiming to have tested positive for the virus. They may also deny financial resources in their alleged, all-encompassing “strategies.”
A call to the police is more than just a call to the police
When tempers eventually escalate to the point where authorities are contacted, that call is not an isolated incident. Any police call involving a domestic disturbance will almost always result in either one or both partners facing criminal charges.
Furthermore, statements or admissions like “he pushed me” or “I pushed her” made immediately to the police by either party– usually without the guidance of a criminal defense attorney – are often used against the accused or even the accuser when criminal charges are filed.
It is important to note that domestic violence accusations do not mean an automatic guilty plea. However, once the police are involved, the prosecution will always go forward with the case, regardless of what the accuser may want. This is why it is so critical to keep tempers in check during stressful situations.
Domestic violence claims can be high-profile in the media and harmful to reputations, requiring the help of an experienced attorney skilled in this legally complex and emotionally-charged aspect of criminal defense.