New Jersey Domestic Violence Bill Takes Animals into Consideration
The state assembly has unanimously approved a bill to protect pets during domestic disputes. According to a news report in The Gloucester Center Times, A-1633 gives courts the authority to issue orders to protect animals that are abused or threatened during a domestic dispute. The new law prevents individuals who have been released from custody before a trial for domestic violence to have contact with any animal in the possession of the other party.
The bill also allows the court to decide who should have custody of the animal as part of the restraining order. Theoretically, individuals who are wrongfully accused of domestic violence and have a restraining order against them until the trial may have their pet taken away during that time. The new bill even allows the court to decide who will ultimately have possession of the animal during the determination of the final restraining order. The bill will now go to the Senate to be debated further.
It is common in domestic violence for charges to arise from ulterior motives. Many individuals face life-changing penalties after an argument gets out of hand or a domestic abuse false accusation is made. Police officers at the scene of an alleged dispute are required to make an arrest if the alleged victim exhibits signs of an injury. Mandatory arrests often lead to unnecessary charges that can have substantial consequences including jail time, fines, restraining orders, and now potentially, the loss of a beloved pet.
If you are facing domestic violence charges, it would be in your best interest to protect your rights with quality legal representation. The Princeton domestic battery defense attorneys at Lependorf & Silverstein have a long history of successfully handling these types of cases in New Jersey. Please contact us at (609) 240-0040 to discuss your case at absolutely no cost.
