§ 12-29-1 - Legislative purpose.
SECTION 12-29-1
§ 12-29-1 Legislative purpose. – (a) The purpose of this chapter is to recognize the importance of domesticviolence as a serious crime against society and to assure victims of domesticviolence the maximum protection from abuse which the law and those who enforcethe law can provide.
(b) While the legislature finds that the existing criminalstatutes are adequate to provide protection for victims of domestic violence,previous societal attitudes have been reflected in policies and practices oflaw enforcement agencies, prosecutors, and courts which have resulted indiffering treatment of crimes occurring between family or household members andof the same crimes occurring between strangers. Only recently has publicperception of the serious consequences of domestic violence to society and tothe victims led to the recognition of the necessity for early intervention bylaw enforcement agencies.
(c) It is the intent of the legislature that the officialresponse to cases of domestic violence shall stress the enforcement of the lawsto protect the victim and shall communicate the attitude that violent behavioris not excused or tolerated. Furthermore, it is the intent of the legislaturethat criminal laws be enforced without regard to whether the persons involvedare or were married, cohabitating, or involved in a relationship.