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Relevant Statutes

Relevant Statutes. Reminder:. Tennessee has a preferred response law which requires the arrest of a person committing domestic abuse unless there is a clear and compelling reason not to arrest. Misdemeanor Assault ( T.C.A. § 39-13-101). A person commits assault who:

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Relevant Statutes

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  1. Relevant Statutes

  2. Reminder: • Tennessee has a preferred response law which requires the arrest of a person committing domestic abuse unless there is a clear and compelling reason not to arrest.

  3. Misdemeanor Assault(T.C.A. § 39-13-101) A person commits assault who: • (1) Intentionally, knowingly or recklessly causes bodily injury to another; • (2) Intentionally or knowingly causes another to reasonably fear imminent bodily injury; or • (3) Intentionally or knowingly causes physical contact with another and a reasonable person would regard the contact as extremely offensive or provocative.

  4. Domestic Assault (T.C.A. § 39-13-111) • A person commits domestic assault who commits an assault as previously defined against a person who is that person's family or household member. • Domestic assault is punishable the same as assault in § 39-13-101.

  5. Family or Household Member means • spouse, former spouse, person related by blood or marriage, or person who currently resides or in the past has resided with that person as if a family, or a person who has a child or children in common with that person, regardless of whether they have been married or resided together at any time. • Note: Some domestic situations (e.g. dating couples who have never lived together) do not meet the definition for domestic violence assault by statute. These cases should be charged using the broader assault statute.

  6. Reasons for Separate Domestic Violence Assault Statute • Part of a national trend • Makes it easier for law enforcement to find specific requirements related to domestic violence by having a separate law • Allows the state more easily to collect data about domestic violence cases • Makes it easier to enforce some federal legislation

  7. Probable Cause • Officers must have probable cause to make an arrest in any domestic violence case

  8. Probable cause is: • the combination of facts and circumstances that would lead a law enforcement officers to believe that a crime has been committed. • the notion that a reasonable person would have grounds to believe that an assault had occurred.

  9. Agree/Disagree Exercise

  10. Things not to consider when establishing probable cause: • Victim’s wishes or requests • Willingness of the victim to testify in court • Marital status, race, income or sexual orientation of victims and/or offenders • Citizenship status or ability to speak English • Physical or mental challenges (e.g. disabled people) • Previous calls for help • Staying with or returning to the abuser • Verbal promises by offender that the violence will stop • Assumptions about the (supposed) acceptability of violence in some cultures • Location of the incident (in public vs. private)

  11. Dual Arrest

  12. Dual Arrest • Unintended consequence of proactive arrest policies/laws • Dual arrest refers to situations where both parties in a domestic violence call are arrested • Small numbers of cases involve mutual violence when dual arrest is appropriate • However, police have a legal obligation to establish if self-defense has occurred and who is the primary aggressor if both parties indicate they are victims

  13. Arrest (by statute) is not the appropriate response in domestic violence cases for persons who are not the primary aggressor. Arrest is the preferred response only with respect to the primary aggressor. If a law enforcement officer has probable cause to believe that two or more persons committed a misdemeanor or felony, or if two or more persons make complaints to the officer, the officer shall try to determine who was the primary aggressor. The officer shall presume that arrest is not the appropriate response for the person or persons who were not the primary aggressor. If the officer believes that all parties are equally responsible, the officer shall exercise such officer's best judgment in determining whether to arrest all, any or none of the parties. T.C.A. §36-3-619

  14. Tennessee law requires: • That when arresting two or more parties, the officer must document the grounds for arrest in his/her report • Officers to establish whether injuries are offensive or defensive (which indicate self-defense) • That officers evaluate each complaint separately for probable cause if complaints are made by two or more parties T.C.A. §36-3-619

  15. To determine who is the primary aggressor, the officer shall consider: • the history of domestic abuse between the parties; • the relative severity of the injuries inflicted on each person; • evidence from the persons involved in the domestic abuse • the likelihood of future injury to each person;  • whether one of the persons acted in self-defense; and      • evidence from witnesses of the domestic abuse. T.C.A. §36-3-619

  16. A law enforcement officer shall not:    • Threaten, suggest, or otherwise indicate the possible arrest of all parties to discourage future requests for intervention by law enforcement personnel; or • Base the decision of whether to arrest on: • The consent or request of the victim; or • The officer's perception of the willingness of the victim or of a witness to the domestic abuse to testify or participate in a judicial proceeding. T.C.A. §36-3-619

  17. Consequences of Dual Arrest • The victim suffers additional victimization by the system • Decreases the chances that the victim will reach for help in the future. • Often causes prosecutors to dismiss the case(s) • Increased risk of liability for false arrest.

  18. Dual Arrest Decision Tree

  19. Self-Defense T.C.A. § 39-11-611 A person is justified in threatening or using force against another person if the person reasonably believes the force is immediately necessary to protect against another person’s use or attempted use of unlawful force.  A person who is not engaged in unlawful activity and is in a place where the person has a right to be has no duty to retreat before threatening or using force intended or likely to cause death or serious bodily injury, if: • The person has a reasonable belief that there is an imminent danger of death or serious bodily injury;            • The danger creating the belief of imminent death or serious bodily injury is real, or honestly believed to be real at the time; and • The belief of danger is founded upon reasonable grounds.

  20. Summary of Defensive Injury • Scratches to the back of hands, wrists or arms • Scratches to face or neck • Bite marks on inside of arms (indicates possible strangulation from behind) • Indications of hair being pulled • Bite marks on chest or neck • Injuries located predominantly on back, buttocks and back of legs (indicate a defensive “fetal position” posture) • Injury to top or back of head • Scratches to back • Eye injuries (gouging)

  21. Defensive Injury Tips • Be aware of injuries that are not comparable in magnitude • Persons using self defense will often admit to their use of violence but may not know what to call it • A person who is being assaulted may realize that they are no match for the violence that is about to be used against them and may use a weapon or object as an “equalizer”

  22. Dual Arrest Exercise

  23. Felony Assault/ Aggravated Assault (T.C.A. § 39-13-102) A person commits aggravated assault who intentionally, knowingly or recklessly commits an assault (as previously defined) and: • (A) Causes serious bodily injury to another or • (B) Uses or displays a deadly weapon • There is no felony domestic violence assault statute. All felony assaults are charged as aggravated assaults.

  24. Reckless EndangermentT.C.A. § 39-13-103 A person commits an offense who recklessly engages in conduct that places or may place another person in imminent danger of death or serious bodily injury. This charge is a misdemeanor unless a deadly weapon is used.

  25. Aggravated Criminal Trespass T.C.A. § 39-14-406 A person commits aggravated criminal trespass if they enter or remain on property knowing that they do not have the property owner's consent to do so; and if they intend, know, or are reckless about whether their presence will cause fear for the safety of another (for example when a person has knowledge of a protective order and enters or remains at the residence of the petitioner.)

  26. Harassment T.C.A. § 39-17-308 A person commits an offense who intentionally:    • Threatens, by telephone, in writing, or by electronic communication, including electronic mail or internet services, to take action known to be unlawful against any person, and by this action knowingly annoys or alarms the recipient;      • Places one or more telephone calls anonymously, or at an hour or hours known to be inconvenient to the victim, or in an offensively repetitious manner, or without a legitimate purpose of communication, and by this action knowingly annoys or alarms the recipient; or      • Communicates by telephone to another that a relative or other person has been injured, killed or is ill when the communication is known to be false.

  27. Harassment cont. T.C.A. § 39-17-308 A person convicted of a criminal offense commits an offense if, while incarcerated, on pre-trial diversion, probation, community correction or parole, the person intentionally communicates in person with the victim of the person's crime if the communication is:            • Anonymous or threatening or made in an offensively repetitious manner or at hours known to be inconvenient to the victim;  • Made for no legitimate purpose; and  • Made knowing that it will alarm or annoy the victim.   

  28. Rape, Aggravated Rape, Sexual Battery • There is no longer a spousal exemption for sexual assault offenses in TN • These laws were removed in the 2004-05 legislative session • Married women have same rights under rape legislation • Cases of “sexual abuse” should be considered for sexual assault charges

  29. Viable Fetus as a Victim T.C.A. § 39-13-214 • If the victim of domestic violence has incurred serious bodily injury and is pregnant and is carrying a viable fetus (6 months into gestation), the offender may be charged with assault or other crimes against the viable fetus as well as an assault on the victim.

  30. Other Legislated Duties/Requirements

  31. Enforcing Conditional ReleaseT.C.A. § 40-11-150 In any cases involving stalking, domestic abuse and protective orders, the judge shall impose one or more conditions of release which are designed to protect the victim from further abuse. These include orders to prohibit: • threatening the victim; • harassing, annoying, telephoning, contacting or otherwise communicating with the victim; • the defendant from staying in the home • using or possessing a firearm or other weapon specified by the magistrate; • The possession or consumption of alcohol or controlled substances; and • Any other actions required to protect the safety of the victim

  32. If Conditions of Release are IssuedT.C.A. § 40-11-150 • The judge must issue a written order and send copy to law enforcement agency which has custody of the defendant • The law enforcement agency having custody of the defendant shall provide a copy of the conditions to the defendant upon the defendant's release. • Offenders in these cases shall not be released within twelve hours of arrest if the magistrate or other official duly authorized to release the offender finds that the offender is a threat to the alleged victim.

  33. Notification to Victims T.C.A. § 40-11-150 When a defendant is released with conditions or when a defendant who has been arrested for a violation of an order of protection is released from custody, the law enforcement agency having custody of the defendant shall:      • Use all reasonable means to immediately notify the victim of the release and advise about victim services • Send the victim a copy of any conditions of release.

  34. Violation of Conditions T.C.A. § 40-7-103 • With probable cause, officers shall arrest an offender who has violated conditions of release whether or not the violations were committed in their presence (after verifying offender received notice of conditions)

  35. Reporting Requirements T.C.A. § 36-3-619 • Complete report required when responding to any domestic violence call • If no arrest or a dual arrest occurs, the report must include the grounds for failing to make an arrest • Every month, the compiled data on domestic abuse cases must be forwarded to the administrative director of the courts.

  36. Seizure of Weapons T.C.A. § 36-3-620 • Officers must seize weapons if there is probable cause to believe that a domestic abuse violation occurred • Officers may seize weapons in a domestic violence call if the weapon is in plain view of the officer or discovered pursuant to a consensual search • An officer is not required to remove a weapon if he/she believes it is needed by the victim for self defense

  37. Notification of BondT.C.A. § 36-3-615 • Following any domestic violence arrest, officers must inform the victim that batterer may be eligible to post bond for the offense and be released until the date of trial for the offense.

  38. Transporting VictimsT.C.A. § 36-3-619 When a law enforcement officer responds to a domestic abuse call, the officer shall: • Offer to transport the victim to a place of safety or arrange for transportation • Offer to transport the victim to the location where arrest warrants are issued in that city or county and assist the victim in obtaining an arrest warrant against the alleged abuser.

  39. Providing Information to Victims T.C.A. § 36-3-619 • Officers shall advise domestic violence victims of a shelter or other services in the community. • Officers shall give the victim notice of the legal rights available by giving the victim a copy of the victim’s rights statement.

  40. Victim Rights Statement IF YOU ARE THE VICTIM OF DOMESTIC ABUSE, you have the following rights: 1. You may file a criminal complaint with the district attorney general (D.A.). 2. You may request a protection order. A protection order may include the following: (A) An order preventing the abuser from committing further domestic abuse against you; (B) An order requiring the abuser to leave your household; (C) An order preventing the abuser from harassing you or contacting you for any reason; (D) An order giving you or the other parent custody of or visitation with your minor child or children; (E) An order requiring the abuser to pay money to support you and the minor children if the abuser has a legal obligation to do so; and (F) An order preventing the abuser from stalking you. The area crisis line is __________________________________________________ The following domestic abuse shelter/programs are available to you: __________________________________________________

  41. Issues Associated with Shelters T.C.A. § 71-6-208 • Officers cannot be compelled to provide testimony or documentary evidence that would identify the address or location of a shelter. • In any proceeding involving a shelter or a person staying at a shelter, officers shall serve legal papers by contacting the shelter by telephone and making arrangements for service

  42. Discriminatory Acts Prohibited T.C.A. § 56-8-303 • No insurer or health carrier may engage in an unfairly discriminatory act or practice against a subject of abuse on the basis of that abuse status.

  43. Protective Orders and their Enforcement

  44. Research suggests: • Protective orders apparently deter some batterers • May increase successful prosecutions of batterers • Protective orders return some sense of power and control to victims’ lives • May play an important step in the process of leaving and may offer victims one of many tools they will need to accomplish such a goal. • But they are no panacea or magic fix.

  45. Who is eligible for an order? • Any domestic abuse victim, stalking victim or sexual assault victim who has been subjected to, threatened with, or placed in fear of, domestic abuse, stalking, or sexual assault, may seek a relief under this part by filing a sworn petition alleging domestic abuse, stalking, or sexual assault by the respondent

  46. Victims who may file for an order include: • Adults or minors who are current or former spouses;  • Adults or minors who live together or who have lived together;  • Adults or minors who are dating or who have dated or who have or had a sexual relationship, (does not include fraternization between two individuals in a business or social context);  • Adults or minors related by blood or adoption;            • Adults or minors who are related or were formerly related by marriage; or  • Adult or minor children of a person in a relationship that are described above.

  47. Abuse is defined as: • inflicting, or attempting to inflict, physical injury on an adult or minor by other than accidental means, • placing an adult or minor in fear of physical harm, • physical restraint, • malicious damage to the personal property of the abused party, including inflicting, or attempting to inflict, physical injury on any animal owned, possessed, leased, kept, or held by an adult or minor, or • placing an adult or minor in fear of physical harm to any animal owned, possessed, leased, kept, or held by the adult or minor. T.C.A. §36-3-601

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