The stay-at-home orders to combat the COVID-19 outbreak has forced families to remain in their homes, except when performing essential tasks such as grocery shopping and refilling your prescription medication. Furthermore, many businesses closed their doors until further notice, resulting in millions of people losing their jobs.
Staying inside the home all day and every day, limiting time spent outdoors, terrifying news circulating 24/7, unemployment, and the stress of still paying household bills and supporting the family, these circumstances can lead to tempers flaring and loud arguments becoming physical altercations, especially when alcohol or drugs are involved. Law enforcement officials say domestic violence arrests will increase during the coronavirus quarantine.
The World Health Organization (WHO) reported domestic violence incidents significantly rise during epidemics, wars, and natural disasters. According to Axios, a local police station in a city near Wuhan (China) said domestic violence calls tripled in February, compared to the same month the previous year.
Unfortunately, a domestic violence call to the police can automatically result in an arrest because of the mandatory arrest policy in California. If an officer has probable cause to believe a person has “abused” a loved one, the officer is required to make an arrest.
Many domestic violence disputes arise in the heat of the moment, causing alleged victims to express immediate regret after seeing their loved one in handcuffs and ask law enforcement officials to drop the charges. However, state courts have a “no drop” policy, which means the prosecution ultimately decides if a charge gets dropped or filed.
Furthermore, not all domestic violence reports are based on facts. False claims are not uncommon when a person seeks revenge against someone else or wishes to gain leverage in a divorce or custody dispute.
If you have been accused of domestic violence in Orange County, The Law Office of Jacqueline Goodman can protect your rights and freedom. The last thing you want to deal with are criminal proceedings during this frightening and uncertain time, which is why our firm is here to help accused individuals obtain the most favorable outcome in their case.
For more information about our criminal defense services, contact us today at (714) 266-3945 and request a free consultation.