There are a number of reasons why someone might lie about being a victim of domestic violence. Some of the most common reasons include:
Manipulation and control: A person may falsely claim to be a victim of domestic violence in order to manipulate or control their partner, or to gain an advantage in a child custody dispute.
Fear of arrest: A person may lie to the police about what happened in an argument, in order to shift responsibility onto their partner. This can result in the police arresting the wrong person for the offense.
Intoxication: A grossly intoxicated person, either as a result of alcohol or drug use, may imagine that they have been the victim of domestic abuse when in reality no such thing occurred. This can cause them to report a fictitious attack to the police or others, resulting in criminal charges.
Extreme Anger: Sometimes people lie about being a domestic violence victim when they are especially angry at their partner. For example, a woman who just discovered her husband is cheating on her might lie in order to try to get back at him.
Financial gain: In some cases, a person may falsely accuse their partner of domestic violence in order to gain a financial advantage, such as a larger share of the couple's assets in a divorce.
Falsely accusing to gain immigration status: Non-citizen victims of domestic violence may falsely accuse their partner of domestic violence in order to obtain a U-Visa, which allows certain victims of crime to remain in the United States.
Mental Health Issues: Someone suffering from a mental health condition might falsely report being the victim of a domestic violence episode as a result of their condition. Whether their condition is a delusional disorder, personality disorder, or depression, false reports can be made as a result.
Attention seeking: Some people may lie about being a victim of domestic violence for attention or sympathy from friends, family, or authorities.
False accusations of domestic violence can have serious consequences for both the person making the false accusations and the person falsely accused. It's important for the authorities to thoroughly investigate and collect evidence from both parties before determining the facts of the case and moving forward with the legal process. Unfortunately, police in South Carolina typically don't spend a significant amount of time in responding to a domestic violence call, and oftentimes jump to conclusions without conducting a comprehensive investigation.
Attorney James R. Snell, Jr., is the author of the book "Challenging CDV." Now in its third edition, this is the book on the topic of South Carolina domestic violence law and defense procedures. He has represented hundreds of men and women charged with misdemeanor and felony domestic violence.