Domestic violence continues to be a substantial issue in North Carolina. To help fight this issue, the Governor of North Carolina signs Bill S493 into law in July of 2019, taking effect in December 2019. This bill makes several changes to the domestic violence laws in the state that are important to know about.

If you are arrested for domestic violence in North Carolina, here’s what you need to know about this new law and the batterer intervention program that is now a part of it.

Domestic Violence Laws in North Carolina: Batterer

Domestic violence is an unfortunate reality for many people. It is a problem with a frequency that touches every demographic in America, affecting millions of lives each year. Because of this, the North Caroline criminal justice system takes accusations of abuse seriously. 

Punitive measures against serial abusers are an important part of curbing the epidemic…but so is getting to the root cause of the behavior. 

One common reason given for abuse is an addiction. The claim is that if someone is addicted to a substance, that addiction can cause them to lash out [...]

Domestic violence cases can come with stigmas and stereotypes of what an abuser looks like. In a straight relationship, women are often viewed as more sympathetic or victims – even if they are actually the abuser. These stereotypes are even more harmful when LGBTQ victims come forward and ask for protection. 

That’s right. We know well that domestic violence happens in same-sex relationships, too, and at higher rates than many people might expect. How high?

• 43.8% of lesbian women have experienced physical domestic violence (“rape, physical violence, and/or stalking”) by an intimate partner