Post Written By Brooke Price

According to the National Resource Center on Domestic Violence, family violence reports increase on average 2.7% during the holiday season.  However, the number of hotline calls drops dramatically. Call volume decreases on average 53% on Christmas Day and 30% on New Year’s day. With the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) keeping us all at home this year, those numbers are bound to be on the rise. Things like stress from holiday planning, poor finances, alcohol abuse, and increased hours spent at home can all lead to incidents of domestic violence.

Domestic violence charges are associated with severe penalties in Texas and it is a complicated situation. Types of domestic violence offenses in Texas include domestic assault, sexual assault, aggravated assault, and stalking/cyberstalking.  Under the Texas statutes, you are guilty of domestic violence if you:

• Attempt to or inflict physical harm, assault, sexual assault or cause bodily injury to another family member, household member, or person you’re in a dating relationship with; or
• Threaten a family member, household member, or person you’re in a dating relationship with a type of imminent physical harm, assault, sexual assault, or bodily injury.

Now is an important time to check in on your loved ones.  If you recognize any warning signs of domestic violence, such as physical, emotional, or social changes, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233).

If you have been charged with a domestic violence crime in Williamson County, call the Law Office of Price & Wiggins, P.C so that we can review your case.