Category: Domestic Violence

A domestic violence conviction can have serious criminal consequences, such as lengthy prison sentences, hefty fines, and a criminal record that can compromise future housing and employment prospects.

However, a domestic violence conviction can also have life-changing civil consequences, restricting your freedom, ability to see your family, and right to continue living in your home. In fact, across the board, the penalties for domestic violence are more serious in North Carolina than in many other states.

Let’s look at a few of these in detail.

Bottom line: If you are facing domestic violence [...]

A new domestic violence law went into effect on Dec. 1 in North Carolina. This law, dubbed Britny’s Law in honor of the original victim, will create harsher penalties for certain domestic violence convictions. Below, we’re going to explain how the new law came about and what it may mean if you are charged with domestic violence, then touch on a few other domestic violence bills recently signed by the governor.

The History of Britny’s Law

In November 2014, 22-year-old Britny Puryear was killed by her live-in boyfriend, Logan McLean, after four years [...]

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and North Carolinians are raising awareness about these offenses that negatively affect thousands every year.

Recently, UNC Asheville and Helpmate partnered together in a vigil on the UNCA campus. Survivors shared stories and the Helpmate director talked about finding a path to hope. Names of homicide victims in domestic violence cases from the past year were read aloud in memory.

Since purple is the signifying color of domestic violence awareness, a Greensboro woman is using the color to spread awareness. She dyed her hair a bright purple [...]

Domestic violence charges can impact all aspects of your professional, personal, and public life. If you have children, though, the impact could be felt immediately for both you and your kids.

Under the North Carolina statutes, domestic violence is defined as having a personal relationship with someone and attempting to cause or intentionally causing bodily injury or placing that person in fear of imminent serious bodily injury or continued harassment that rises to such a level as to inflict substantial emotional distress.

If you are accused of domestic violence and you also have [...]

While domestic violence victims may spend years hiding their trauma from friends or family, it’s no secret that domestic violence is a big problem in North Carolina. Domestic violence tears families apart, inflicts lifelong trauma and injuries on victims, and was responsible for 99 homicides in 2015 alone.

Think about that for a moment. In one year – in only one state – 99 people were killed due to a particular type of violence. That’s 99 daughters, sons, parents, brothers, and sisters killed.

In 2017, one mother is honoring her late daughter – [...]