Victims may recant statements, but that doesn’t drop the charge

Domestic violence charges can stem from incidents that weren’t necessarily criminal acts. This is because there is a chance that the victim embellished what happened in their statement to the police officers or investigators. Unfortunately, this isn’t going to make it any easier for you if you’re facing these charges.

One thing that the victim can do is recant their statement. When they do this, they are saying that they want to take the statement back. In some cases, they might opt to change their statement. While this might seem like a good thing, it might not make much of a difference in your case.

The victim can’t drop the charges against you. In the criminal justice system, only the judge or the prosecutor can drop charges. If the victim recants their statement, the prosecutor might choose to dismiss the case if there isn’t enough evidence to show what happened.

When there is other evidence that domestic violence occurred, the prosecutor might pursue the charges even without the victim’s statement. This means you’ll still have to defend yourself in court.

A false accusation of domestic violence can be hard to handle. If you’re in this position, there is a chance that you wi ll be subject to a restraining order that prevents you from contacting the victim. Remember that this is still valid even if they recant. It may even remain valid if the criminal charges are dropped, so find out the specifics prior to contacting the victim.

There are many things that can happen when you face a domestic violence charge, including collateral consequences like being unable to hold certain jobs. Your defense strategy is one option that might help to minimize the way that your case impacts your life.

Free Initial Consultation Today

If you live in Oak Grove, Fort Campbell, Hopkinsville, or Cadiz, Kentucky, don’t face your criminal charges on your own. Reach out to criminal defense attorney Michael J. Thompson and schedule a free consultation to discuss your criminal charges. You can reach Mr. Thompson at (270) 439-1175. You can also contact our law firm by filling out our online contact form.

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