Articles Posted in Domestic Violence

Interviewer: What would you say are some of the common misconceptions that people have about domestic violence cases? Paul Tafelski: The biggest one is when they hear the words “domestic violence,” they immediately think of a husband beating the daylights out of his wife. That’s the stigma that goes along with it, which is part of the reason why people should and do take it seriously when they’re charged with it and trying to make sure that they beat the case, because that’s what people picture in their minds. However, the reality is that probably two-thirds of these cases result...

Interviewer: With Domestic Violence cases, is there always going to be an arrest? Paul Tafelski: For the most part nowadays there would usually be an arrest. I wouldn’t say always but I would say usually there would be an arrest because the police are told to make an arrest now. It used to be that the police might make one person leave the house for the night to sort of cool off and that’s what a lot of people would expect the police to do when they call them, but in reality the police are now instructed to make an...

Interviewer: What are some of the bigger misconceptions people have about domestic violence and assault? Paul Tafelski: Everybody’s seen the Ray Rice video recently. That’s what people really think of when they think of domestic violence and yet I’d say 95% of the cases do not involve anything nearly as brutal or serious as what you see on that tape. Most of these cases involve much more minor physical confrontation, yet the connotation is that it is very severe and that you’re a really rotten person if you’re accused of this. So the perception is much worse than what the...

Interviewer: Could a police officer question a child without the consent of the parent in a domestic violence case? Paul Tafelski: Yeah. Typically they will interview kids who they think are old enough to give a statement if they think it’s necessary. For example you might have a situation where the accused admits that what the accuser says is true. Well in that situation the cops might not feel like they have to interview the kids because they might feel like they just got an admission from the defendant and they have the statement of the complaining witness so they...