A new study conducted by a psychology professor at the University of British Columbia shows similar personality traits in male and female perpetrators of domestic violence.

The study used 567 psychiatric patients to analyze if they exhibit normal personality characteristics, psychopathic characteristics, or mentally ill characteristics.  138 women and 93 men in the study had histories of domestic violence.

Zach Walsh, the author and professor leading the study, stated, "These new findings are among the first to highlight similarities between subtypes of domestically violent men and women".

The three subtypes and similarities found in the study are: low pathology perpetrators have generally normal personalities and are rarely violent outside of the relationship, dysphoric perpetrators suffer from mental illnesses such as depression, anxiety, and other forms of mental illness, and antisocial perpetrators exhibit high levels of psychopathic characteristics and are violent outside of the relationship.

If you or someone you know has been the victim of domestic violence, contact the Raleigh domestic violence lawyers of Marshall & Taylor, P.C. at 919-833-1040 to learn more about your rights. 

This week, 44-year old actor Charlie Sheen plead guilty to a misdemeanor third-degree assault charge as a part of a plea bargain.  Two charges were dropped in the bargain, including a criminal mischief misdemeanor and a felony charge of menacing.  Sheen was charged after attacking his wife, Brooke Mueller, on Christmas day last year.  Court documents revealed that Mueller feared for her life during and after the attack.  "My husband had me with a knife and I'm scared for my life," stated Mueller in her 911 call after the attack. 

This was not the first time Sheen found himself in court for domestic violence.  In 1996, Sheen was charged with assault for attacking his girlfriend.  The actor plead no contest and served two years of probation.

As a result of the plea bargain, Sheen was able to avoid jail time by spending 30 days in a rehabilitation center, serving 30 days of probation, and completing 36 hours of domestic violence and anger management counseling.

If you or someone you love has been the victim of domestic violence, contact the Raleigh domestic violence attorneys of Marshall & Taylor, P.C. at 919-833-1040 to learn more about your rights. 

Last Thursday, over 100 people gathered together at the Johnston County courthouse to remember victims of domestic violence incidents in the county.

In the last month Johnston County has seen a number of high profile domestic violence cases, including one recent one resulting in the death of a 4-year old girl.  A week earlier, Devinne House and her son were killed by her husband and on July 1st, Elizabeth Reyes was shot by and killed by her husband.   

A spokesperson for Harbor Inc., a Johnston County non-profit helping domestic violence victims, stated, "This is a severe problem in all communities, not just Johnston County...It's all across North Carolina and the United States".  

Johnston County District Attorney Susan Doyle stated, "As friends, as neighbors, as family members, we can make a promise to do a better job; to be aware of circumstances that might be occurring right next door or in our families and not be afraid to step in".  

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families and friends of the remembered victims. 

On July 10th, the second annual Butterfly 5K Fun Run will be taking place at 8:30 AM in WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, North Carolina to benefit victims of domestic violence in memory of Nancy Cooper.

Nancy Cooper was from Cary and was found dead in an undeveloped subdivision just miles from her home in July 2008.  Cooper's friends and family believe that her husband was abusing her and cut her off financially, making it difficult for her and her two daughters to leave.  Cooper's husband, Bradley Cooper, is in jail waiting trial in October.  

Proceeds of the run will go to Nancy's Butterfly Fund, a program that helps women in abusive situations become more financially independent and able to escape unhealthy or dangerous situations.  The fund was established in 2009 in memory of Nancy Cooper.  A Butterfly Fund organizer stated, "Not only do we remember our friend, but in her honor, others are helped".

Interact, a Wake County domestic violence shelter, developed a list of fourteen questions for law enforcements officials in North Carolina to use to assess the risk of domestic violence in a situation.  

Interact supports victims of domestic violence and promotes awareness of domestic violence.  Interact's clinical educational director, Stephanie Francis, believes that the questions not only help police determine the risk of abuse but also victims.  "It's easy to not want to believe how dangerous the situation can be," stated Francis.

The questions address threats, violent tendencies, weapons, and the victim's thoughts.  For example, has the physical violence increased in frequency in the past six months or year?  What do you think will happen between you and your partner in the near future?  Are you expecting a violent attack?  

If a victim answers yes to three or more of the fourteen questions they are considered to be at high risk.

If you or someone you love has been a victim of domestic violence, contact the Raleigh domestic violence lawyers of Marshall & Taylor P.C. at 919-833-1040 to learn more about your rights. 

A recent study by Dr. Renee Boynton-Jarrett of Boston University's School of Medicine reveals a newfound link between family abuse and childhood obesity.

In the study, Boynton-Jarrett and her team observed 1,595 children born between the years 1998 and 2000.  Most children were from unwed parents.  The mothers of the children were interviewed from the child's birth up until the age of 5.  Moreover, the children's height and weight were measured at age 3 and age 5.  The study ended when every child had reached the age of 5.  At this point, 49.4 percent of children had been exposed to family violence, and 16.5 percent were considered obese.  Boynton-Jarrett and her team concluded that children whose mothers suffered chronic domestic violence were 80 percent more likely to become obese by the age of 5. 

In addition to the possibility of obesity, if children do become obese they also have a greater chance of suffering from heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and other illnesses later in life.  Boynton-Jarrett stated, "It's always sobering to see the vast impact that adversities in early life can have on long term health outcomes". 

If you or someone you love has been a victim of domestic violence, contact the Raleigh domestic violence lawyers of Marshall & Taylor P.C. at 919-833-1040 to learn more about your rights.