West Palm Beach domestic violence investigations can move quickly given the gravity of the allegations. Given the complex nature of such an investigation, an accused person could greatly benefit from contacting a seasoned Attorney at Leifert & Leifert immediately. A dedicated domestic violence Lawyer could champion an accused person’s case and work towards getting the charges dropped.
Common Characteristics in a Domestic Violence Investigation
Most of the time, West Palm Beach domestic violence investigations usually begin with a 9-1-1 call by the person that allegedly suffered from the domestic violence, a neighbor, or a family member. Other common characteristics may be that one party alleges the other committed an act of violence against them, or there is a history of domestic violence in the family and it took a while before the individual decided to call the authorities. Also, alcohol and/or drugs are commonly seen in a domestic violence case. Other commonalities are the typical things that domestic partners fight about such as sex, money, or family issues.
After the 9-1-1 call is made and the police show up, the accused person is usually going to be taken to jail. When this happens, it is important for the individual accused of domestic violence to reach out to one of our attorneys in West Palm Beach.
Contacting Criminal Defense Lawyers for Help During Investigation
A domestic violence defense representative knows what Law Enforcement Officers look for to substantiate an arrest or close the case. Also, they know what a Prosecutor looks for to determine whether to file a case against the accused person. It is important to have an experienced West Palm Beach Attorney at one’s side during the process of a domestic violence investigation. The Lawyer could have the maximum input on the case before final decisions are made that might affect the accused person’s livelihood for the rest of their life.
How a Police Officer Determines the Primary Aggressor
A Police Officer may determine the primary aggressor by various factors, including but not limited to:
- The identity of the person who made the 9-1-1 call
- Whether one of the parties is impaired by alcohol or drugs
- The injuries of both parties
- The versions of the incident from both parties
When the Police arrive on a scene after receiving a call of domestic violence, they do an assessment of the scene and the people present. They interview the people at the scene to identify the primary aggressor and then decide who to arrest in that situation. An Officer may not always be able to determine the primary aggressor. In such a circumstance, they can arrest both individuals. The Police’s main goal is to protect the alleged injured individual. However, if both parties were attacking each other, they might both be taken to jail.
Rights of the Accused
It is important for accused individuals to know that they have the right to remain silent while the opposition is investigating the alleged domestic violence. While their Attorney could determine the allegations and defend them in court or in a proceeding if necessary, anything the person says could be an admission. If an accused person waives their right to remain silent, they could give the Investigator an admission of wrongdoing.
If the individual speaks to the context of what happened, they provide the Investigators with a motive. The best thing is to remain silent and decline to provide any evidence that might be used against them.
If there is evidence such as bruises, cuts, or other injuries that show the accused was not the aggressor, they should make sure the Investigators take note of their injuries. As far as the specific facts, it may be best to keep silent and let an experienced criminal defense Lawyer at Leifert & Leifert help them and give them the appropriate advice on how to respond to the allegations made against them. If you are facing a West Palm Beach domestic violence investigation, contact one of our dedicated Attorneys today for a free consultation.
