|
| DOMESTIC VIOLENCE - A MAJOR PROBLEM PART 2 |
| Law enforcement's handling of domestic violence continued to change during the late 1980's and the early 1990's. During this period, prosecutors and legislators began taking a hard core approach to dealing with domestic violence cases. The influx of women prosecutors and, of course, the O.J. Simpson case were major reasons for this change. Special units that dealt exclusively with domestic violence were created by the District Attorney's Office, and it became a feather in one's cap to be assigned to these units. As a result of these changes, the police department's treatment of domestic violence cases changed radically. Out of concern for liability and for political considerations, police departments incorporated no-nonsense policies of dealing with domestic disturbances. These no-nonsense policies included: 1) Where there is a complaining party and slight corroborative evidence, somebody is going to jail; and 2) The person going to jail is usually booked on a felony, so that bail can be increased, making it difficult for the person arrested to get out. The District Attorney's Office's handling of these cases also began to look quite different than anything we had ever seen before. Equipped with the passage of new penal code sections that made it easier to obtain convictions and which created harsh sentencing for these offenses, prosecutors became much more aggressive when filing charges. More dramatically, however, was the new tactic prosecutors used when dealing with cases where there is a recanting or uncooperative victim. Instead of automatically dismissing these cases, the prosecution would usually proceed to trial using the victim's spontaneous statements as evidence. Our legal system's changed attitude toward domestic violence was also reflected in the passage of numerous state and federal laws. For example, we now have laws that provide victims of domestic violence with "victim rights advocates" who accompany victims during criminal proceedings and provide moral support." |
| The Houston, Texas, criminal defense law firm of Attorney Andy Nolen, represents people who have been accused of a state crime in Texas, including in communities such as League City, Angleton, Pearland, Alvin, Clear Lake, Sugar Land, The Woodlands, Baytown, Pasadena, Memorial, Spring Branch, River Oaks, West University, and Bellaire. Counties that this firm serves include: Galveston County • Fort Bend County • Montgomery County • Brazoria County • Harris County. Cases handled include: Domestic Violence, Theft, Shoplifting, Drunk Driving, Evading Arrest |
| Andy Nolen, Houston Criminal Lawyer Hundreds of Cases Dismissed |
| ANDY NOLEN, ATTORNEY AT LAW TEXAS DEFENSE LAWYER |
| HOUSTON CRIMINAL LAWYER OVER 15 YEARS CRIMINAL LAW EXPERIENCE LICENSED IN BOTH STATE AND FEDERAL COURT |
| 713-697-4373 FREE CONSULTATION Flexible Appointments |
| 15 Years Courthouse Experience as a Houston Criminal Defense Attorney |
