Learning that someone is seeking a protective order can feel very insulting, and many people rush to defend themselves against allegations of aggressive behavior or stalking. Others believe that the allegations they face are a sure sign they should wash their hands of...
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Domestic Violence
Violating a protective order can be serious
Differences are inevitable in any relationship. However, when those differences escalate to the point of violence or a threat of violence, the court may impose a protective order against the alleged aggressive party. Basically, a protective order, as the name...
What if you are falsely accused of domestic violence?
Being accused of domestic violence comes with serious yet lasting consequences: an arrest, arraignment, order of protection, reputational damage and possible jail time if you are convicted. And since most domestic abuse claims generally involve intimate partners, they...
Mistakes to avoid when facing domestic violence charges
Most states, including South Dakota, take domestic violence allegations extremely seriously. Most calls in which domestic violence is suspected usually end in arrest. While strict domestic violence laws are meant to protect victims, they can also be misapplied. Anyone...
How can you respond to a protection order that impacts your life?
Protection orders exist to help people in vulnerable situations. Someone who has had to endure intimate partner violence, assault from a family member or stalking could petition the courts in South Dakota for a protective order. If granted, such an order can limit...
Domestic violence can affect child custody rights in South Dakota
South Dakota, like most states, has a tough stance on domestic violence and abusive parents. Whenever custody matters are involved, the goal of the child custody ruling is always to act in the child’s best interest. And this usually involves providing a safe and...
How does a domestic violence protection order work?
If your partner accuses you of domestic violence, they could seek to place a protection order. If they succeed, this could severely limit your rights and impose unwanted changes on your life. Protection orders play a vital role in keeping people in danger safe. Yet,...
How do the South Dakota police decide who to arrest in a domestic violence dispute?
Allegations of domestic violence often stem from mutual confrontations rather than overt abuse. In a domestic abuse scenario, one spouse attacks first by verbally belittling the other. Intense fights between intimate partners or spouses can easily sound like domestic...
Legislation seeks to expand domestic violence gun restrictions
If someone accuses you of domestic violence, it could result in restrictions to your gun rights. Current federal legislation restricts you from owning a gun if convicted of domestic violence against a domestic partner, such as a spouse. Newly proposed legislation...
Can a domestic violence victim drop the charges against their alleged abuser?
A domestic violence charge means that you need to explore all the defense options that are possible for your case. While you’re doing this, you may wonder if you can convince the victim in the case to drop the charges. It might seem like that would be an easy way to...