Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Prescription Drugs, Alcohol, and Domestic Violence

Prescription drugs and alcohol play a role in many Domestic Violence cases.  As most people are aware, alcohol effects the central nervous system, reducing inhibitions and sometimes causing irrational and explosive behavior.  Prescription drug use with alcohol can amplify these effects.  The use of these substances can provide fuel for physical events in households between people with domestic relationships.  Some of these situations lead to arrests for Domestic Violence.
From a legal perspective, the use of alcohol and prescription drugs are very important.  There are evidentiary concerns that attorneys must take into account when alcohol and/or drugs are involved in a criminal case, namely the ability for a witness or a Defendant to properly perceive the events alleged to have happened.  In many instances, both the alleged victim and the Defendant in a domestic violence case were under the influence of alcohol and/or prescription drugs at the time of the event. 
Police officers are normally keen to the fact that a person is under the influence of alcohol as there are physiological signs like bloodshot eyes.  Usually, there is also a noticeable odor on an intoxicated person's breath.  Additionally, there can be empty containers of consumed alcohol around the crime scene.
Prescription drug use can be harder to detect, and officers do not always investigate this facet of a criminal case.
When reviewing a criminal case, attorneys must investigate the use of alcohol and prescription drugs, so it is important for witnesses and Defendants to discuss the use of these substances with prosecutors and defense attorneys.  Many times police reports notate the use of alcohol and drugs, but amounts and types of drugs can be in question.  More information may need to be gathered for an attorney to properly prepare to discredit, or impeach, a witness at an evidentiary hearing.
If you have been charged with Battery, Battery Domestic Violence, or any other related crime; or if a TPO has been issued against you, please visit georgeforjustice.com.

Thursday, March 8, 2012

Domestic Violence on the Las Vegas Strip

Las Vegas Strip and Downtown hotel rooms serve as the location for many arrests by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department for Battery Domestic Violence.  There are a few reasons for this.  The first is that many vacationers to Las Vegas consume large amounts of alcohol which can lead to more explosive and violent interactions between domestic partners
The second is gambling.  Gambling can lead to stressful situations when people have risked more resources than they can afford to.  This can result in heated arguments between people who share resources.  Sometimes these heated arguments become physical. 
The third is an issue of proximity.  If you are in a single family residence with a yard and you get into an argument, chances are no one is going to hear it because there is a large buffer in between homes.  In a hotel room, that buffer is not there, so if you get into an argument, the concerned person in the room next to yours is going to call security. 
Fourth, when security comes to the room, someone is probably going to be arrested.  Las Vegas hotels do not want "problems" on their property because one problem could effect many people when everyone is in such close proximity.  If they feel you are a problem, you will most likely be removed by security and then taken to jail by police.
Many situations that arise in hotel rooms are just arguments with little or no physicality, but, for the above reasons, someone gets arrested.
If you have been charged with Battery, Battery Domestic Violence, or any other related crime; or if a TPO has been issued against you, please visit georgeforjustice.com.