In 2011, the victim advocacy agency Stop Abusive and Violent Environments sponsored a False Allegations Summit in Washington DC. The Summit was held in response to the publication of a teacher's experience with a false accusation of sexual assault and how this false accusation continues to impact his life. The Summit highlighted the issue of wrongful accusations and featured the findings of the first-ever national survey of false abuse allegations. The goal was to increase awareness of the harmful effects of wrongful accusations.
Every year there are numerous false accusations of domestic violence. Stop Abusive and Violent Environments estimates more than 700,000 individuals are arrested for domestic violence they did not commit each year.
False allegations of domestic violence are a serious matter and can have severely negative ramifications on the victim and his or her loved ones. The accusations often result in one or more of the following situations:
- Family break-up
- Removal of children from interaction with the accused
- Incarceration or issuance of fines
- Loss of residence for the accused
- Restriction of civil liberties and rights (e.g. owning or possessing a firearm)
- False accusations on the victim's criminal record
False allegations of domestic violence are becoming a widespread problem. A spokesman for the summit stated that "standards of proof have become so diminished that anyone can file a claim and destroy the good reputation of an innocent person." Seeking a protective order against a spouse on a false claim of domestic violence can now be used merely as a bargaining tool to obtain favorable custody decisions in a divorce proceeding.
If you are the victim of a false accusation of domestic violence and facing criminal charges, it is essential to consult a criminal defense attorney. An attorney can protect your legal rights and potentially mitigate some of the ramifications that might accompany a false accusation.
