Falsely Accused Of Domestic Violence? What Are Your Rights?

While false accusations of domestic violence can be difficult to accept at first, the accused should respond quickly to mitigate the impact of the claims. They’ll need a lawyer immediately to help fight the charges and seek justice in and out of court.

A person falsely accused of domestic violence would have to dispute it in court and prove innocence. If you find yourself in such a predicament, you should get a domestic violence Attorney on your side as soon as possible. If you’re the target of malicious abuse charges, you need to take note of your rights which are listed in this article.

Assaults committed against spouses are the most well-known examples of domestic violence. To commit domestic violence is to knowingly and purposefully inflict physical harm on another household member or to put that person in immediate and severe physical fear. Also, domestic violence includes a wide range of crimes like stalking or knowingly holding another person against their will and the law.

The accused has certain rights under the law that must be upheld until a judge or jury makes a decision on the case. Listed below are those rights.

  • Presumption of Innocence

The presumption of innocence in the American criminal justice system guarantees everyone a fair trial. Because of this presumption, an accused person is given the benefit of the doubt of being innocent until proven guilty. This means that the person isn’t presumed guilty of the alleged criminal act until the court issues a decision. 

  • Right Against Self-incrimination

No one should be coerced into giving evidence against themselves in a just court of law. Many constitutions and human rights treaties affirm this idea, so it’s important to take a broad view while applying it. Torturing an accused person to get a confession isn’t only wrong but illegal. When an accused person says he wants to stay quiet, anyone who tries to force him to change his mind should be charged with a crime. Using other unethical means (such as giving the accused psychoactive substances) to get him to testify against himself is also unacceptable.

  • Right To Remain Silent

The Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution says that people have the right to stay silent and that they can’t be forced to testify against themselves. Although under the Fifth Amendment, every individual has the right to remain silent, it’s not always used by those accused of a crime. 

Recognizing when a person falsely accused of domestic violence can invoke their right to silence under the Fifth Amendment is crucial. It’s a common misconception that they can invoke their Fifth Amendment rights in the case of an arrest. However, that’s not necessarily the case all the time. When a suspect is in police custody and being questioned, they have the Fifth Amendment privilege against self-incrimination. If you’re wrongly accused of domestic abuse, you may choose not to say anything to the police until you’re given a lawyer.

  • The Legal Right to Retain Counsel

In a criminal case, the right to legal representation begins at arrest and continues through sentencing. A legal advocate can help the accused mount a strong defense in court.

In most cases, the accused is expected to cover the cost of his own legal representation. A low-income defendant may, nonetheless, be eligible for public defender services. Occasionally, the judge will appoint a public defender at no cost to the defendant. It’s also within the accused’s rights to represent himself in court without hiring an attorney. If this is the case, the judge can assist in ensuring a fair trial by, for instance, providing a concise summary of the proceedings. The court can provide the defendant with legal representation to ensure a fair trial as well.

  • Right To Have Access to a Fair Trial and Remedial Action

Any just legal system must respect the accused’s desire to be treated as an equal party in the case. The matter cannot be resolved if the accused isn’t given a voice in a criminal case. More than that, the accused should have the right to request that authorities collect and review any new evidence that can clear their name. This is the essence having one’s day in court. You need to be given a fair trial and access to actions that proceed as the case progresses. 

In Closing

Finally, consult a domestic violence attorney who has dealt with cases of fabricated domestic violence. Your attorney will have a firm grasp of the nuances of your situation and will be able to use it to your advantage. Always remember that you have a right to be presumed innocent, against self-incrimination, to remain silent, and access to justice.