Recently, a lot of attention has been paid to domestic violence and the issues surrounding the treatment of victims and the accused alike. Most this discussion stems from a recent video that made the internet rounds of NFL player Ray Rice allegedly assaulting his then-fiancé. In addition to the shocking video, people were disturbed by the fact that Rice's employer, the National Football League (NFL), did not take more steps to properly punish him for the incident. This controversy he even led the NFL commission to re-think its bylaws and how players accused of domestic violence and assault crimes are treated. While this makes many fans happy, it raises questions about how other businesses should treat their employees in similar situations.

As Forbes Magazine writes, most businesses and human resource departments do not have a policy as to how employees accused of assault and domestic violence should be treated. While an average person may advocate for a strict policy of terminating these types of employees, domestic violence attorneys know that false accusations and misunderstandings do occur. Therefore, a person simply accused of a domestic violence charge should not also have to be concerned about losing their job.

The NFL is not the only business to have to deal with these issues. Greenville Online reports a story of a highway patrol trooper who was relieved of his position after being arrested for criminal domestic violence. Earlier this month, police were called to the home of Charles Homer Rose III in Greenville County, SC where a woman reported that her husband hit her on the side of the head during an argument. Police arrested 70 year old Rose who had been working for the Highway Patrol since 1969. The article states:

“Rose was terminated Friday and was suspended without pay by the South Carolina Department of Public Safety after his arrest, according to Sherri Iacobelli, of SCDPS.”

Stories like these highlight the importance of contacting a defense attorney as soon as you are arrested for a domestic violence crime; even an accusation can lead to dismissal from work and a no contact order being placed against you. To find out more about your rights in Washington, call a Seattle domestic violence defense lawyer today!