What actions are considered to be stalking?

Those facing charges of domestic violence in Mineola could find themselves having to deal with some very serious consequences (independent of the criminal penalties they may be facing). The mere idea that they are even associated with such an incident could put a permanent stain on their reputations. If one happens to work in a public position (or one that requires public trust), then the damage done to their reputation could reasonable jeopardize their careers. It is for this reason that a rush to judgment should be avoided at all costs when such allegations are being investigated. A man in a very high-prolife position is currently facing such allegations. He is the head coach of the men’s basketball team for a college in California, and he was recently returning from a victory over a conference opponent when he was arrested by police. According to reports, the investigation into his conduct began when authorities responded to a call from a local hotel. The woman found at the scene had suffered non-life-threatening injuries that she claimed were inflicted by the coach. While the coach is married, it was not reported whether the woman involved was his wife. The university reported that it is conducting its own investigation into the matter. The hope is that even with charges pending against them, defendants in domestic violence cases will be afforded the benefit of the doubt while their cases play out. Yet as employers and organizations may not necessarily be legally bound to wait out criminal investigations before taking their own disciplinary action. Thus, defendants in such cases are likely motivated to have them resolved quickly (and fairly). Those hoping for such a resolution may be wise to secure the services of an experienced criminal defense attorney. Source: New York Post “Cops arrest college hoops coach for domestic violence after game” Feb. 26, 2018

You may consider your relationship with your spouse or partner to be like any other in Mineola, experiencing the customary ups and downs that all romantic partnerships do. That may be the reason why the news of your being served with a protective order comes as such a shock. Your initial reaction may be to reach to your significant other to try and work things out. However, doing so could qualify as contempt of court, which, if you are found guilty of, could leave you facing criminal penalties. So what should you do in such a situation? First off, it is imperative that you understand the nature of the order. According to New York’s Consolidated Laws, criminal courts are empowered to issue temporary protective orders in cases where your spouse or partner is unable to promptly initiate a petition in family court. Such orders last for four days, during which time you are forbidden from contacting or approaching him or her at any of the following locations: At home At school At work A temporary order may also limit you to only having supervised visitation time with your kids. Again, these restrictions are only in place for four days with a temporary order, but may be extended at the courts discretion. As you prepare for the hearing that will determine whether the protective order against you will be extended, you should carefully review your recent interactions with your significant other to better understand what may have prompted him or her to seek this action. If you already have an idea of what it might be, consider talking to any outside parties that may have observed the action(s) in question in order to offer up the opinion of an impartial observer to your allegedly abusive conduct.

Domestic violence is no light matter, regardless of where the abuse takes place. A new type of this behavior has become prominent in recent years, and involves online methods of stalking individuals in a domestic setting. Cyberstalking can open the door for a multitude of issues, especially given the wide range of social media platforms offered today. There may be many grey areas when it comes to this type of violence, but New York makes clear that the consequences can be both severe and lasting for all of those involved. An incident that surfaced in recent news exposed a complex domestic situation between a police officer and his ex-girlfriend. WHEC News elaborates on the ex-girlfriend’s accusations of cyberstalking toward the officer, wherein she claimed that the officer, William Rosica, terrorized her through a series of online messages. Rosica allegedly used his keen police training in a negative way in attempts to dominate the woman, in what WHEC notes was part of a year-long scheme to inflict emotional damage. According to the report, the abuse began shortly after Rosica’s ex-girlfriend end their relationship. In addition to the emotional distress Rosica caused, reports show he also followed his ex-girlfriend only to send emails and texts to her detailing her own actions. Many experts in organizations geared to prevent domestic violence fear that cases such as Rosica’s could lead to furthered violence. When it comes to the state of New York, the Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence outlines stalking and cyberstalking, noting that cyberstalkers need not be in close physical proximity to carry out abuse. Furthermore, cyberstalkers commonly invite other online users to join in stalking a particular individual. The OPDV also acknowledges that those in domestic situations have easier access to a victim’s personal information, such as bank accounts and confidential files–making the situation all the more serious.