-If for some reason the district attorney’s office doesn’t pursue the case, legally you have the right to know why. If you’re in disarray and feel that you’ve been cheated contact victim’s services, social services, or a woman’s rights or women’s victims group or organization and tell them your story. They may be able to direct you to better action.
-Remember, the criminal justice system is, as a whole overflowing with cases. Depending on the jurisdiction up to 90 percent of criminal cases are plea bargained. It’s at least that high for civil cases. But don’t let that dissuade you. You have a right to be treated fairly, justly and are ideally guaranteed due process in your case.
-Understand that if the case goes to trial you may have to face your ‘former abuser’. You may also have to relive what you’ve been through on the witness stand. Your abuser’s defense attorney may be a man or a woman. His/her job is to defend the defendant and to try to poke giant holes in your testimony or to obliterate it. If you go this far, be brave, forthright, honest tenacious and unrelenting.
-If there are witnesses including neighbours tell the police.
-Request a personal copy of the police report for future reference.
-If the police see no proof whatsoever, there’s a chance your abuser may not be arrested but just told to leave your domicile. Laws vary from one jurisdiction to another. Furthermore, due process applies to accusers and the accused, otherwise, ever single accusation even bogus and preposterous ones may result in arrests and convictions. Due process is for the greater good of society. Nevertheless, never be dissuaded from calling the police. They’re trained to observe body language and behaviour relevant to crime. Domestic violence is a crime.
-Policewomen can have a calming effect on domestic abuse victims. They’re often called in as part of a pair or team in many domestic abuse 911 calls.
-Even if you don’t or can’t get yourself to call the
police, if things get out of hand one or more of your neighbours may call the police, as happens on countless occasions. They don’t need your permission to call for help.
-Your neighbours may call the police because of the raucous too, not realizing or maybe in some cases not caring what happens to you and your partner.
-Remember, physical, sexual and mental abuse is a choice.
There are Domestic abuse cases that are peculiar and sensitive. You may have to take extra measures or circuitous measures to ensure your safety and to see justice. Policemen are not immune to being abusers:
-Abusers often come home from work pissed off as hell and with an attitude. But this category of abusers carries a gun, a badge and can arrest people, even his partner.
-Domestic abuse amongst police families is less often reported than in non-police families. Wives or partners of policemen may be more inclined to fear the law.
-The victim likely assumes that the officers who show up may personally know her partner.
-The victim may believe that the case will never go to court; the ole boys network.
-She may feel that the main players (in particular at the police level) of the criminal justice system will be hostile and antagonistic towards her.
-Many police departments don’t have a specific policy for dealing with domestic violence by their officers. Often, the ‘punishment’ may be counselling.
-Policemen who abuse their partners know how to intimidate a person. They know how to appear menacing without striking a person. In their line of work they deal with many common criminals, and some are tough. They need to hold their ground.
-Policemen carry firearms, know how to properly use a night stick and can painfully restrain and/or take down a person without leaving any marks, bruises or breaks. They’re trained to take down dangerous criminals; in comparison taking down a defenceless woman is a breeze.
-The abuser may be well-versed in the loopholes of the criminal justice system.
-The abuser has a good knowledge of the law regarding domestic violence. Chances are the victim is at a loss in this arena.
-A very hostile abuser may threaten to seriously harm his wife and claim that the law won’t help her.
-He may remind her that the same officers who work the beat are his beer or bowling buddies. He knows them quite well; ‘they won’t betray me because I’m one of them’.
-A police officer is thought to be a trusted and respectable member of the community; hard to believe he beats his wife or partner.
-The loss of a single policeman is a loss to the community.
-Neighbours may be apprehensive about calling the police. They may believe that the police will reveal their identities to the abuser, who happens to be their neighbour.
-The courtroom work group has likely seen the offender as a witness; they know him they don’t know her.
-The abuser may get ‘inside information’ on his partner’s case and how it’s proceeding
-A wife or partner may be weary of calling the police and filing a criminal complaint against her partner; she may not want him to be suspended or lose his job.
-If a woman is forced to stay in the town or city it’ll be difficult to hide from her abuser. As long as he carries a badge this is likely so.
-The jurisdiction of a police officer does not extend state-wide. If you fear for your safety and nothing concrete has been done to protect you leave the city; go to a trusted family member or friend.
Regarding police officers, the aforementioned basic facts are referring only to policemen who abuse their partners. There are countless policemen and policewomen who risk their life and limb to help protect our communities. They have a very stressful and dangerous job to do. As a whole, they keep their stressors at the workplace. When they come home they’re good partners.
Most policemen would never abuse their partner. They’re outstanding members of the community and rightfully so. We need them to help maintain order, when