Austin Criminal Lawyer

Spousal Abuse

The United States has many laws to protect people from violence and abuse. As a result, child abuse, animal abuse, and spousal abuse are just some of the many types of abuse that have been made illegal in the US.

Fortunately, spousal abuse in the United States is not an endemic problem, but it still occurs. Spousal abuse can take several forms, though it falls into two main categories: verbal and physical. Verbal abuse involves swearing or cussing at, demeaning, or embarrassing one’s spouse. Physical abuse, on the other hand, includes sexual abuse, pushing, shoving, punching, kicking and other types of physically violent behavior.

Although both types of abuse are immoral, only physical abuse is illegal. As soon as one spouse lays a hand on the significant other, the other spouse can call the police. If not charged with abuse, the spouse can be charged with assault.

One of the things that needs to be kept in mind about spousal abuse is that both males and females can be abusive. Although it is true that males are more likely to abuse their spouses, there have also been known cases of female spouses physically abusing their male counterparts.

Regardless of which spouse abuses the other, ultimately, spousal abuse is a sign of oppression, suppression, and violence. Couples in an abusive relationship need to seek help immediately, before the situation escalates into something much worse.

Contact the Austin Abuse Lawyers

If you have been charged with the crime of abuse, legal challenges lie ahead. To obtain help in defending yourself, contact the Austin criminal lawyer of Ian Inglis by calling 512-472-1950.