Gwinnett County Criminal Defense Law Blog

The state of Georgia, along with the rest of the nation, takes a hard stance against violent crimes. Domestic violence is an ongoing problem in the United States, and many victims need resources and assistance. However, sometimes the reaction of law enforcement, friends and family, or an employer, can be a bit overzealous toward the person accused of abuse. Recently, the owner of an NFL team has been criticized for doing the opposite. 

The man that owns the Chiefs franchise has been called to task for mishandling situations in which players on his team have been accused of domestic violence. In situations where a person with some level of fame or celebrity, such as a professional sports player, has been accused of domestic violence, the public outcry often begins before the facts of the case are known. If people believe a false allegation, the accused may suffer personal or professional repercussions unfairly. 

Understandably, violent crimes are taken very seriously by law enforcement in Gwinnett County and throughout Georgia. Flipping through the local police log often provides snippets of the crimes residents are accused of, such as theft, drugs, or domestic violence. Many times, the public is never given an update, and may have a difficult time finding out if an accused person was ever convicted in criminal court. 

There has been an idea circulating among victims of domestic violence and advocates on their behalf to establish a nationwide database of convicted domestic abusers. The idea is that if a person has a record of committing violence against others, it would be easy for others to be made aware of the potential danger. Similar databases already exist for other sorts of crime, like animal cruelty. 

Georgia residents might be familiar with "Mama June" Shannon, who rose to reality tv fame alongside her daughter Alana, child pageant star. Though Alana is long past the toddler beauty pageant phase, fans were able to follow the family on several spinoff shows, centered around the fun-loving brood, with matriarch Shannon at the helm. Recently, Shannon and her boyfriend found themselves facing serious charges after a report regarding domestic violence brought police to the family home. 

The trouble began when an unknown party reported that Shannon's boyfriend had allegedly committed an act of domestic violence. When police made contact with the couple at Shannon's residence, both she and her boyfriend were arrested on drug charges. This came as a shock to fans and producers alike, as a third season of Shannon's show was being filmed, and by all accounts, the couple was headed toward marital bliss. 

When Georgia residents think of violent crime, they may think each case is pretty cut and dried. In cases of domestic violence, a community may be quick to judge the person accused. While certainly, in some cases a serious crime has been committed, there are also plenty of examples when allegations against a supposed aggressor turn out to untrue. 

Recently, students and representatives from a Georgia town decided to put together a charity walk supporting victims of domestic violence. However, the event has more than one purpose. The organizers of the event aim to bring awareness to the facts about domestic violence, and help educate the public.