Reply #6: old news

[hfojvt]

and I stil wonder if there is a difference between "domestic violence" and "misdemeanor domestic violence", because I would think that assault and battery would still be assault and battery. But, as I understand it, in Wisconsin and Iowa, when the police get called to a domestic disturbance, they are required to arrest somebody, even if no other law has been violated (other than the ever-present "disturbing the peace"). That charge is perhaps "misdemeanor domestic violence".

Certainly more serious domestic violence can still be prosecuted as such - more than a misdemeanor.

Also, I would not consider "being arrested and spending a night in the county jail" the same thing as "no consequences". According to Wall Street protestors, that process itself is not a lot of fun.

Curious though, because misdemeanors are usually seen as a source of revenue. The guilty party pays a fine (or perhaps does community service). Apparently brings in less revenue than the cost of judges and DAs time.

But if Topeka wants to save money, they could stop harrassing people like me who drive there in February and leave their dogs in the car.