Domestic Violence arrests staggering in Las Vegas, Nevada. In 2012 alone, Las Vegas police responded to more than 60,000 domestic violence related calls, and effected more than 22,000 domestic violence related arrests in the Las Vegas valley. In 2013, 32% of all homicides in Las Vegas were related to domestic violence, and so far this year, 5 homicides which were related to domestic violence, have occurred in Las Vegas, North Las Vegas and Henderson.
The Violence Policy Center in Washington, D.C. released a study in 2012 which concluded, that Nevada had the highest rate of women killed by men in the nation for 5 of the past 6 years. Many community leaders have questioned why Nevada’s domestic violence rate is so high. There are the obvious reasons, such as the transient nature of Nevada’s most populated city, Las Vegas, in addition to the 24/7 access to alcohol and gambling, but some have pointed out the down economy as a reason for the increased domestic violence arrests.
Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Sgt. Blake Smith, has gone on record stating, “Domestic Violence is one of Metro’s highest priorities”. With domestic violence arrests being a major priority to Metro, one can assume that if a domestic violence call is made and a police officer arrives at your home, chances are, one or both parties are being arrested and booked on charges of domestic violence.
Although, actual marks of physical contact, such as a bruise, cut or scratch assist the officer in making a determination on whether or not to make an arrest, these physical markings are not required. Meaning, if an officer arrives at your home and your husband, wife, boyfriend, girlfriend, roommate or any family member accuses you of attacking them, the officer can arrest you without any physical proof of a domestic battery. A domestic violence arrest is extremely detrimental to one’s record and a conviction can result in jail and will remove your right to own or possess any firearms, even in the comfort of your home. Lastly, it is important to note, it is the state of Nevada who is “pressing charges” against the accused, meaning the domestic violence case against the accused will go forward, whether or not the victim wants it to.
-Michael A. Troiano, Esq.
source: http://www.reviewjournal.com/news/domestic-violence-rise-las-vegas-area