Domestic violence affects both men and women in the United States. According to 2010 statistics from The Centers for Disease Control, nearly 7 million women and more than 5 million men were victims of either stalking, rape or physical violence by an intimate partner. In addition, approximately 1,640 women and 700 men were killed by their intimate partner according to a 2007 report by the Bureau of Justice Statistics. Preventing these fatalities is what advocate groups are trying to implement within the justice system.

Many people within the criminal justice system are advocating for a system that would give those making the decisions on domestic violence situations access to research-based, risk assessment tools. The system would include:

  • When police arrive at a domestic violence call, they would ask the victim a series of questions to determine the risk for future assaults or if it could escalate to a murder.
  • Officers would make sure the victim called a shelter or hotline to ensure that the victim receives the services needed.

Many states have implemented this type of assessment tool for their officers and have seen measurable progress. Statistics are down on intimate partner homicides.

Domestic violence accusations are taken seriously in Texas and in some instances a police officer may arrest an individual before understanding the entire situation, that's why the proposed system would help all parties involved in a domestic situation.

If you've been charged with domestic violence in Texas, the state no longer dismisses cases because the other person wishes to drop the charges. In all domestic violence cases, the state will proceed with or without the cooperation of the alleged victim. Convictions for domestic violence can negatively impact your future, so if you have been charged with this offense, a criminal defense attorney can work with you to figure out an effective defense and could help to lessen the penalties that may be brought against you.

Source: digtriad.com, "New Model Aims To Stop Domestic Violence Deaths," April 22, 2012