What the Renewal of the Violence Against Women Act Means for Defendants

Federal lawmakers are considering changes to the Violence Against Women Act that could have an impact on state domestic abuse charges.

2012-07-01

July 01, 2012 (Press-News.org) In late April, the United States Senate voted to renew an embattled federal law, the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). The House of Representatives followed suit about a month later, passing their own version of a renewed VAWA. The proposed changes offered by Senate Democrats and House Republicans are the first proffered major revisions to the law since its enactment in 1994.

What is the VAWA?

The VAWA was first passed in 1994 amid concerns that existing state laws did not offer adequate protection to victims of domestic violence, particularly when that violence crossed jurisdictional lines. Another reason for the existence of a federal law was to ensure uniform prosecution of offenders.

Why Does It Matter if the VAWA Changes?

The controversy surrounding the law doesn't come from its intended purpose -- to protect women from domestic abuse -- but instead from the way in which partisan lines have been drawn about the scope of the protections offered by it.

For example, a Democrat-sponsored revision would:
- Extend the law to expressly include lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered (LGBT) couples
- Make more visas available to immigrants being abused in their homeland (or those who came to America illegally but now need to change their immigration status to get out of an abusive relationship)
- Give Native American authorities the ability to seek additional law enforcement assistance from neighboring federal courts.

Republican-supported legislation would essentially renew the VAWA as it stands now, without offering the additional support sought by Democrats.

Regardless of whether the VAWA is strengthened in 2012 or it is renewed as-is, domestic violence charges have much more serious consequences -- and prosecutors many more resources -- than they did prior to the enactment of the VAWA. If you are facing allegations of domestic violence, you need to protect your rights and aggressively defend yourself: consult a skilled criminal defense attorney as soon as possible.

Article provided by Green & Ritchie, PLLC
Visit us at www.greenandritchie.com

ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

East Coast Curbside Bus Companies Shut Down Due to Safety Violations

2012-07-01

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has shut down 26 curbside bus companies on the East Coast, citing multiple safety violations and in some cases, evasion of safety regulations and unscrupulous operating practices. Curbside bus companies offer cheap fares for passengers traveling through the Northeast Corridor. Rather than collect and deposit passengers at a bus terminal, these companies pick up and drop off passengers at the curb. They keep costs low by paying their drivers low wages, maintaining low overhead and failing to take appropriate safety ...

Court Dismisses Medical Malpractice Claim Against Tennessee VA

2012-07-01

In 2009, the VA notified more than 10,000 veterans that they may have been exposed to hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV while undergoing colonoscopies at Veterans Affairs facilities. The VA said the exposure risk stemmed from improper cleaning of the tools used to perform the procedures. Approximately 6,000 of those veterans were treated at a VA clinic in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. The others were treated at clinics in Augusta, Georgia and Miami, Florida. To date, at least 90 veterans have tested positive for one of the three viruses. Unfortunately, a recent ruling in ...

Pennsylvania Patient Safety Authority Pursues New Initiatives

2012-07-01

After several successful patient safety campaigns, the Pennsylvania Patient Safety Authority has been awarded a federal grant to pursue further efforts. The goal of the "Partnership for Patients" grant program is to reduce preventable hospital errors and ultimately improve healthcare and outcomes for hospital patients. The federal government awarded the $1.6 million grant as part of a public-private partnership initiative. The Pennsylvania Patient Safety Authority will partner with the Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania on grant-supported ...

FMCSA Hours of Service Regulations Subject to More Litigation

2012-07-01

Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, Public Citizen, and other safety groups have sued the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) again for their regulations governing truck driver's hours of service (HOS). Hours of Service Rules The FMCSA is responsible for the safe operation of trucks on the nation's highways and works to prevent truck accidents. Its statutory mandate states: "Safety as Highest Priority...the [FMCSA] shall consider the assignment and maintenance of safety as the highest priority." Congress has instructed them to devise ...

Dangerous Ranking: New Mexico Is Highest in Injury-Related Deaths

2012-07-01

National rankings are revealing. If a state is excelling or falling short in a certain area, comparative assessments can show how it stacks up against others. In the case of New Mexico, the rankings on injury-related deaths are disturbing. New Mexico has the highest rate of these deaths in the country, according to a new report by two respected nonprofit groups. This article will discuss what that report found, and what results say about fatal car accidents and other accident deaths in New Mexico. Accident Deaths in New Mexico The survey was conducted by the ...

Health Care Coverage is Complicated by Divorce

2012-07-01

A big concern for non-working spouses in a divorce might be continued medical insurance coverage once the decree is finalized. Many such individuals have insurance through their soon to be ex-spouse or former spouse's employer. Going without insurance is not a viable option for most people, so many may be left asking what they can do to ensure coverage when entering the single life. What Are the Options? The first issue to be aware of is that it is not possible to stay on a former spouse's insurance once the divorce is finalized, if such coverage is provided through ...

Florida Makes Major Changes to Car-Accident PIP Coverage

2012-07-01

Every Florida driver is required to carry personal injury protection insurance. PIP coverage, also called "no-fault insurance," pays for medical care for injuries sustained in a car accident, regardless of who was at fault. In recent years, Florida's PIP coverage has become very expensive. Some commentators blamed the price hike on unscrupulous medical providers who tried to get the maximum $10,000 benefit out of every patient. Others attributed the price increases to the insurance companies' own profit motives. Regardless of the reasons, Florida lawmakers ...

Childhood Sexual Assault Statute of Limitations Provides Justice for Adults

2012-07-01

While witness testimony in the Jerry Sandusky trial and the ongoing developments in the Catholic Church sex abuse scandal highlight the tragic consequences sexual abuse in childhood can have on adult victims, these cases also emphasize that justice can still be served years after abuse occurs. In Connecticut, childhood sexual abuse victims can seek civil damages for the abuse they suffered through the state's generous statute of limitations on these kinds of suits. How the Statute of Limitations for Civil Suits Works Section 52-577d of the Connecticut State Statutes ...

Proper Commercial Truck Maintenance Is Vital for Accident Avoidance

2012-07-01

Commercial truck technology has come a long way in recent years, with some parts able to outlive the truck on which they are installed. Though these improvements make commercial truck maintenance easier, they do not completely alleviate the need for maintenance checks. Proper maintenance is one way to ensure commercial vehicles are safe and that defects in the truck itself are less likely to cause accidents. Axles and Truck Suspensions: Two Maintenance Concerns A truck's suspension and axles are vital pieces of its anatomy. Either may compromise safety if not in good ...

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie Proposes Mandatory Drug Treatment for Non-Violent Offenders

2012-07-01

Chris Christie, Governor of New Jersey, purposed during his State of the State speech a change in the way drug offenders are punished. His plan would direct non-violent offenders into treatment programs instead of prison. "Everyone Deserves A Second Chance." He stated in his address, "[L]et us reclaim the lives of those drug offenders who have not committed a violent crime." He also admitted that current drug policies, and implicitly, the war on drugs have failed. Treatment Is Less Expensive Than Prison Governor Christie pointed out that, ...

What the Renewal of the Violence Against Women Act Means for Defendants

ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES: