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Dear editor,
I would like to address a problem with a case involving domestic abuse. This can be concerning when the party was married to a police officer who is directly responsible for the abuse and harassment. In specific there is a law in Cullman County here in Alabama that requires at least one of the parties involved in a domestic violence call to be detained and this means they will be arrested. This leaves the victim defenseless even in their own home, and with nobody to call for help for fear of retaliation from the police who are partners with the ex-spouse. I have a disagreement with this law because it does not always protect the victim in situations like these where the other party is in law enforcement.
“Under Alabama law, domestic violence occurs when crimes such as harassment, assault, menacing, reckless endangerment, or coercion are committed against a victim who is a current or former spouse, parent, child, any person with whom the defendant has a child in common, a present or former household member, or a person who has or had a dating or engagement relationship with the defendant” (www.aardvar.com). If an abuser is present on the victims property and a domestic violence is called in it should be an automatic assumption that the other party who does not live here is at fault because they are present on property of a person they are aware is in fear of them. This isn’t to imply that the victim is always the innocent party, however if the other party in question is on the victims property than they are putting themselves in a position to be technically guilty of at the least harassment during an open domestic violence case. If this law was clear on this subject protecting the victim and there property then it would be up to the accused to take action not to be in this situation in the first place without clear and final repercussions for breaking the law. This would also be a good way to avoid any reports of favoritism toward the law enforcement officer by fellow officers.
Sincerely Name,
References
- www.womenandpolicing.com
- www.aardvarc.org/dv/states/aldv.shtml
- www.cullmantimes.com/news/article_bd31de36-3f95-11e4-a00b-7b5edf2e15aa
- www.womenslaw.org/statutes_detail.php?statute_id=6940#statute-top , Section 13A-6-142. Violations; penalties
