How Tarrant County Handles Domestic Violence

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https://www.MedlinFirm.com/ | (682) 204-4066 One study suggested that one in three women in Tarrant County will be a victim of domestic or family-related violence in her lifetime. This is much higher than the national average of one in four women, though that rate is unacceptably high, as well. That high rate of abuse is why Tarrant County has changed how it handles domestic violence in recent years from start to finish. What Is Domestic or Family-Related Violence? Domestic violence or DV refers to emotional and/or physical violence against someone in "domestic" situation. Texas has a rather broad list of what counts as a "domestic" relationship. For example, it includes assault against your roommate as well as a live-in lover. It includes attacks against your former partner's new partner. Abusing your children or your parents can also count as domestic violence as well as child abuse and elder abuse. The classic definition, assaulting your spouse or lover, is now called intimate partner violence or IPV. Other cases such as a child assaulting a parent or vice versa may be called family-related violence. But how does Tarrant County handle these cases? How Does Tarrant County Handle Domestic Violence Cases? Criminal District Attorney (CDA) Sharen Wilson said that fighting all forms of DV is one of her office's highest priorities. In 2016, Tarrant County Commissioners created a special unit to deal with Intimate Partner Violence or IPV felony cases. This team has five full time assistant Criminal District Attorneys, two investigators and support staff. Tarrant County Criminal Court Number 5 is a misdemeanor court focused on prosecuting lower level cases, those that are not felonies. Wilson created this division after taking office in 2015 and seeing that more that half of the capital murder cases were family-violence related. These prosecutors work with city-level police departments before cases reach the courthouse. This streamlines how DV and IPV cases are handled from "first contact" or the initial call to police. It is believed that collecting hard evidence the moment police are called ensures that the case moves forward. And it is thought to prevent dangerous escalation of violence within the household. Furthermore, getting victims in front of nurses and counselors helps them gain access to resources so they can leave bad situations. (The most dangerous time for a victim is when they are trying to leave the abuser.) Police do far more follow-up, too, rather than waiting until the next call for yelling or worse by the neighbors. Fort Worth Office The Medlin Law Firm 1300 S University Dr No. 318 Fort Worth, TX 76107 (682) 204-4066 https://www.medlinfirm.com/locations/fort-worth/ Dallas Office The Medlin Law Firm 2550 Pacific Ave No. 866 Dallas, TX 75226 (214) 888-4810 https://www.medlinfirm.com/locations/dallas/ Redeem Your Tokens