Military Service is not easy for a person. This includes their spouse or loved ones. A person’s experience in the military may result with alcohol abuse or PTSD. The consequence of drinking is that emotions become high and a domestic violence incident ensues.
You want to be proactive and work on letting the court know what is behind the actions. If you have PTSD or suffer from alcohol abuse from military service you want to consider your options, including military diversion.
You want to contact a former Domestic Violence Prosecutor who can help obtain the best possible outcome to you. Contact Premier Domestic Violence Law Group at (619) 752-3702.
Domestic Violence Charges While in the Military
In many ways, military families are just like civilian families. But military couples experience things that few others do: the stress and worry of deployment, and the effects of having served in a combat zone.
While anybody can develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after experiencing a trauma, this disorder is much more common among servicemembers and veterans. Being in a combat situation triggers your fight-or-flight response. If you experience this frequently or go through a particularly terrifying event, your mind can become “stuck” in fight-or-flight mode, even once the danger has passed. PTSD causes a range of possible symptoms, including:
- Recurring, intrusive memories of the trauma
- Flashbacks of the event
- Trouble sleeping
- Being easily startled or frightened
- Alcohol abuse
- Emotional numbness
- Feeling distant from family and friends
- Angry outbursts
Still a major problem in military households
Domestic violence is an unfortunate effect of military couples affected by PTSD. Male combat veterans are reportedly two to three times more likely to abuse their wives or female partners than veterans if they have PTSD. From 2003 to 2010, when the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan were both going on, domestic violence incidents declined in the U.S. as a whole. But they went up 177 percent in families where at least one spouse was serving in the Army.
PTSD can dramatically change your personality and your self-control. Things you would never have done before developing PTSD may happen without warning, that can lead to a call to the police and you getting arrested.
What to do if you are charged with domestic abuse
As an active-duty servicemember, a domestic violence accusation can lead to criminal charges against you. It can also affect your career in the military, potentially leading to discharge. Whether PTSD has affected your behavior or not, you need qualified legal help from a defense attorney who regularly represents military members.
You want to contact a former Domestic Violence Prosecutor who can help obtain the best possible outcome to you. Contact Premier Domestic Violence Law Group at (619) 752-3702.