Minnesota Legislature Considers Proposal to Tighten Domestic Violence Practices

A bill was proposed this past week to the Minnesota Legislature from the Minnesota Coalition for Battered Women. Along with the proposal, representatives from the organization delivered a report on domestic violence fatalities for the year. Their resulting recommendations include tightening up on domestic violence practices by law enforcement and judges alike.

According to the Oakdale Lake Elmo Review, the proposed bill includes better protection of domestic violence and sexual assault victims by “strengthening the language” of protection orders and “clarifying stalking legislation.” In addition, it seeks to give judges more tools when determining pre trial release and bail for such defendants.

Domestic violence is a hot topic simply because it affects so many families and is still clouded by a stigma of shame. The report delivered this week indicated 28 people in our state died as a result of crimes like this in the past year; three of them involved cases where protection orders were already in place.

In most instances of domestic violence, a temporary restraining order is issued the moment there is a reasonable allegation of abuse. Once an order like this is put in place, contact with the alleged victim is a criminal offense in and of itself. In extreme cases where the suspect is violent, police have little opportunity to enforce the restraining order until it is too late.

If you have been accused of domestic violence you know the stigma attached to crimes like this first-hand. Whether you are completely innocent or did something you now regret, the law is designed to protect the alleged victim in cases like this and despite the good intentions of those laws, it may leave you feeling unfairly targeted.

The charges you face for a domestic violence case depend on the details of the case itself and if you have any prior domestic convictions. If you do, your potential sentence can be elevated to a much harsher level.

In addition, if you are found in violation of a protection order, you can face charges completely separate from the initial assault charge.

When facing charges of this magnitude, you need a defense attorney in your corner. When it feels like everyone else is against you, we can be the legal advocates you require. Contact our lawyers today for a consultation on your case.