Michigan has responded to domestic violence through legislation which was passed to help protect the survivors of domestic violence. Michigan provides for Personal Protection Orders which are court-ordered restraints preventing contact between the assaulter and his victim, which may include no personal contact, at home or at work, no phone contact, no mail contact and certainly no assaultive behavior or threats. Beginning in 1983, the legislature passed acts to provide for the authority to issue domestic assault injunctions against spouses and current or former house mates, warrantless arrests for domestic assault or injunction violations, made stalking a misdemeanor, made spousal rape a crime, and required police to provide victims with referral services to local shelters and legal remedies and finally allowed for shelters and training. Myths and misconceptions can often interfere with the ability of the criminal justice system to adequately respond to domestic violence. Because Michigan now does not tolerate domestic violence at the absolute minimum, some Michigan Courts have decided that if you are liable to do something like that you are basically incompetent to raise a child.
Domestic violence is an important factor during a divorce to determine custody of children.
It is important to let your attorney know if you have been involved in an abusive relationship and are a domestic violence victim.