"This past weekend, the police came to our Washington apartment at 2:30 AM because my boyfriend and I were fighting. When it happened, I was scared, angry, and exhausted. I lied to the officer in my statement and insisted they arrest him. Now I feel terrible. We are back together and I want to do whatever I can to help him. What can I do?"

Victim Remorse in a Domestic Violence Cases

It is not uncommon for victims of domestic violence to feel guilty when the abuser is arrested or held accountable. Naturally, lying to a police officer is never a good idea. You could be charged for giving false statements to police officers. There are other problems with the situation, too. The victim of a crime becomes a witness in the state's case against the abuser. You cannot simply say, “Just kidding!” and have the prosecutor drop the charges. Prosecutors may permit you to speak your truth and tell your story in hopes to sway the prosecutor's mind. This can be further complicated by any no-contact orders that the court could impose. This would prohibit the defendant from contacting you. Your best option would be to discuss the matter with an experienced attorney who is knowledgeable about domestic violence charges and the courts. He or she could secure that meeting with the DA who may dismiss, reduce, or choose not to file the charges.

Preserve the Integrity of the Case

In the meantime, while you wait to speak to your criminal defense attorney, do NOT visit or discuss the case with your loved one on the phone while he or she is in jail. Any conversations that occur could harm his or her chances. Imagine if you are talking with your boyfriend and he says the typical statements such as “I'm sorry,” “I didn't mean to hit you,” “I'll never do it again,” or any similar statements--these could strengthen the prosecutor's case against him. If you truly want the case dismissed or you want the very best results for your boyfriend, stay away from him while the case is being investigated and while he is in jail.

Contact the Washington Criminal Defense Attorney with Experience

After years of prosecuting cases, Attorney Steve Karimi is now on the other side of the courtroom helping people defend themselves against domestic violence charges. He knows everyone deserves fair representation and that even when you make a serious mistake, your rights must be preserved. If you or a loved one is facing domestic violence charges, contact Steve Karimi today to schedule a no-obligation, free consultation. Once you learn your options, you can begin to make decisions that could help you emerge from your domestic violence charges with the very best results. We look forward to helping you. Call today.