Rise of Arizona Domestic Violence Calls to Police During COVID-19

June 23, 2020 Posted in Domestic Violence

The global coronavirus pandemic crisis has turned our daily lives upside down. From people being unable to work to receiving lockdown violation tickets for failing to properly practice social distancing, it seems we all have a lot of reasons to feel a bit on edge these days.

Being locked in your home is stressful, but being locked in your home when you’re in a toxic relationship is downright nerve-wracking. If you’re experiencing domestic unease during the current crisis, here are some important things that you need to know to protect yourself legally.

Why Domestic Violence Calls Are Skyrocketing

During quarantine, domestic violence calls to police have been skyrocketing in Arizona. Some people don’t understand why exactly this is happening. One comedian joked that he wouldn’t suddenly start abusing his spouse if he found himself locked in his apartment.

It’s important to realize that these aren’t instances of people suddenly waking up one day and deciding to become abusers due to the stress of COVID-19. Instead, these are people who were already plenty of abusive who now find themselves in the company of their victim all day and night. While their victim may have previously been able to escape them for several hours of the day when they were at work, they now have nowhere to run.

Furthermore, abusers aren’t people who regulate their emotions and deal with stress very well. Abusers tend to have serious rage issues and cannot cope with hardship without lashing out at their loved ones, both verbally and physically. When an abuser finds themselves in a stressful situation, they’re more likely to ratchet up their abuse instead of dealing with their emotions in a healthy way.

How People Exploit Domestic Violence Laws

The world is full of real abusers and real victims. These are the people who law enforcement ought to be focusing on, especially during these unprecedented times. Unfortunately, the world is also full of toxic people who throw around accusations of domestic violence as a way to spite their partners, despite the fact that the person their accusing has actually done nothing wrong.

Tensions are high in many households currently under lockdown. Just like an abuser, when a toxic partner is put under stress, they lash out in unhealthy ways. This can include filing false domestic violence charges against their significant other. Many people are perfectly willing to lie to law enforcement if they believe it will help them to get revenge against a partner who they believe has slighted them.

Sadly, the Arizona police have to err on the side of caution when it comes to domestic violence cases. Domestic violence is serious and can be fatal. No cop wants to free a potential abuser and risk being the reason why a victim ultimately perished. For this reason, they’ll often arrest alleged abusers, even if they’re fairly confident that the accuser is fabricating their story. Learn more about the potential penalties for domestic abuse.

If you’ve found yourself on the receiving end of domestic violence charges, you need a criminal lawyer who will fight for justice and fairness. Contact the Law Offices of Gary L. Rohlwing today for more information about a criminal lawyer who will work hard to protect your rights.