Domestic Violence Charges

One of the biggest deterrents to stopping the violence is the stupidity of the courts. Perhaps it is because most of the judges are men, perhaps it is because the defense lawyers are too good and the prosecution (legal aid) is ridiculous. Domestic violence charges must be taken seriously.

Lawyer: Client in abuse case is ‘not Hannibal Lechter’
But, how could a reasonable jury listen to the facts in the above case and find not guilty? The man beat the woman, caused her to be a paraplegic, and his lawyer is defending his actions. Now I know that is the job of the defense, but lets be honest folks, if the woman has a second rate lawyer and god knows there are a lot of them, will she get the justice she deserves.

I don’t care if she insulted him, if she burned his supper, if she refused sex, whatever; she does not deserve to be beaten, crippled, and left to rot in a nursing home. She deserves justice. Who is paying for the nursing home? Are there children involved? But the victim seldom gets justice because the courts have a way of turning things around and blaming the victim. Follow the money…. Who is paying for what… and what leg does the victim have to stand on?

I guess I am not just talking about the above scenario, I am talking about them all. Is the almighty dollar deciding who walks and who suffers? How many women who have fled an abuser and is homeless, has to settle for a third rate lawyer? How many women do not get their children back because they can not afford a good lawyer? How many children are forced to go and live with an abuser because the law did not protect them? Take the next step and press domestic violence charges now.

So many times it is the woman who is charged for leaving the man, or for taking her children to safety. The woman; who is not working and has no income because she needs to look after her baby, does not have many options. The woman; who has to flee for her own safety and now finds herself homeless because she is trying to protect herself and her child.

We need more than temporary shelters; we need a complete change to the present system. We need a safety net for victims of abuse that will protect them and help them get on their feet. They need affordable housing, legal protection, police protection, and support from the community.

We need to change the law, we need to raise awareness.