Domestic Violence Registry Law Passed in Texas

A new law passed in Texas creates a Domestic Violence Registry similar to the sex offender registry which is maintained by the Texas Department of Public Safety. The law, called House Bill 21, would pertain to anyone who is convicted of domestic violence crimes on three times or more occasions. These individuals would be required to register as repeat offenders. The registry would include their names, birthdates, and photographs and would be available to the public for free online. The authors of the bill hope that such a registry will help potential victims of repeat offenders to avoid violence against them and their children or other family members.

In Texas, domestic violence is called Family Violence and involves acts committed by family or household members against other members. Such acts are intended to bring about physical harm, bodily injury, assault, or threats that place the victim in fear of such harm. The law defines family as those related by blood or affinity, by marriage or former marriage, those who have a child in common whether married or not, foster parents, foster children, and members or former members of a household which includes roommates. The law was also amended to include those involved in a dating relationship.

According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, close to 178,000 domestic violence incidents occurred in the state in 2011. Marital relationships comprised close to 40 percent of family violence reports. The majority of victims were female.

Criminal Defense Attorney Serving Houston

In cases of alleged domestic violence, you can be convicted of crimes even if the alleged victim does not wish to pursue charges, recants his or her story, or has called in the police out of spite or revenge. Domestic violence charges are taken very seriously by prosecutors who will continue the case against you to protect the alleged victim. That is why it is vital that you seek legal representation immediately upon any arrest.

The Martinez Law Firm has a solid track record of criminal case results in the Houston area. Mr. Martinez is a former Chief Prosecutor who thoroughly understands all sides of the criminal justice system. He has been practicing law for more than 15 years and has proven to be a tough advocate and defense attorney. His case results and legal ability have earned him a 10 out of 10 Superb rating by Avvo. He has also been recognized by H-Texas Magazine every year since 2009. These recognitions demonstrate that he and his legal team focus on quality legal representation. If you have been arrested or are being investigated by law enforcement for any crime, contact the firm for a free, initial consultation to get the experienced legal guidance you need.