Carpenter & Associates, PC TX

MEET THE TEAM!! 👉
Darlene Hodges is an accomplished attorney with extensive litigation experience across diverse practice areas. Over her 10-year career, Darlene has represented clients in complex disputes, contract
negotiations, family law matters, and intellectual property protection cases. Her expertise includes managing comprehensive discovery processes, conducting depositions, and resolving discovery conflicts. Have a situation that would benefit from Darlene’s expertise? Call our office to schedule a complimentary consult today!
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MEET THE TEAM 👉 Bradley W. Rivers has over a decade of experience in civil litigation, criminal and family law. Contact us to schedule a consult with Bradley today; you won’t be disappointed!
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There is a new school year coming. Holidays. Weekends.
IT IS TIME TO GET THE TIME YOU DESERVE WITH YOUR KIDS.
CALL US.
CREATE NEW MEMORIES. DON'T JUST LIVE OFF OF THE OLD ONES.

Let us help you make your assets work for you, and be used for the longterm purposes YOU intended.
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Thankful. 🇺🇸
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A little reminding you to hire an experienced courtroom attorney. 😉
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Indeed it would ~

😎 THE GHOST OF MARY MORGAN 😎

When it’s time to let go and fight, we are the firm to walk through it with you. Always here, always dependable, always diligent -
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Our growing law firm is looking to hire a family attorney who is fiercely passionate about representing clients facing one of the most challenging times in their lives. Candidates should be adept at preparing necessary legal documents in connection with prenuptial agreements, initiating and finalizing divorces, alimony, child support/child custody, and real estate. Experience in handling legal issues such as child abuse, child custody, and domestic violence is also a must. If you have a proven record of success both in and out of court, apply now!

Responsibilities:

Handle the division of marital assets, including real estate, during divorce proceedings as needed
Represent clients in court proceedings as needed
Advocate on behalf of clients by understanding their needs, effectively analyzing the situation and forming a strategy for a plan of action
Create legal documents such as pleadings, motions, marital settlement agreements, contracts, judgments and orders for a high volume of cases
Maintain client files to ensure they are properly organized and up to date

Qualifications:

Great negotiation and communication skills, particularly in stressful and emotional situations
Member in good standing and actively involved with the State Bar of Texas
Extra consideration for those with a criminal justice background
Proven record of success in advocating for plaintiffs and defendants
Experience at a legal firm working on family law and real estate issues (determining marital property) for at least 1-2 years is required

Job Type: Full-time

Salary: $80,000.00 - $125,000.00+ per year

Divorce handled with experience, efficiency, and dignity.
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Wisdom 😉
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Love and compatibility are indeed not the same. Better to have loved and lost than to remain unhappy and unfulfilled forever. Our firm understands the discretion and sensitivity needed to handle your divorce best.
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Sometimes we have to save ourselves. Whether it’s domestic violence, a custody battle, or a cut and dry divorce, we can help.
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Dirty hands. Clean Soul.
Protect your own. At. All. Costs.

Walking away is often very hard. Starting again is never easy. Working with a highly experienced, client-focused firm like ours makes all the difference in your peace of mind throughout.
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Introduction:
Navigating the Texas civil litigation process can be complex, but understanding the key steps and concepts is essential if you're involved in a civil lawsuit. Whether you're the one initiating the lawsuit (plaintiff) or the one being sued (defendant), this roadmap will provide you with a more detailed overview of the Texas civil procedure.

1. Pleadings: Initiating the Lawsuit

Complaint: The plaintiff begins the lawsuit by filing a complaint, which outlines the claims against the defendant. This document explains in detail what the plaintiff believes the defendant did wrong.

Answer: The defendant responds to the complaint with an answer, admitting or denying the allegations. The answer may also include counterclaims against the plaintiff.

Counterclaim: If the defendant believes the plaintiff has harmed them in some way, they can file a counterclaim as part of their answer.

2. Discovery: Gathering Evidence

Requests for Information: Both parties can request documents, answers to written questions (interrogatories), and depositions (recorded interviews) to gather evidence for their case.

Depositions: Depositions involve live, recorded questioning of witnesses and parties involved in the case. This helps gather testimony and information for use during the trial.

3. Pretrial Motions: Resolving Issues Before Trial

Motion to Dismiss: Either party can request the court to dismiss the case if there are legal grounds to do so.

Summary Judgment: A request for the court to decide the case without a trial, based on the argument that there are no genuine disputes over key facts.

4. Trial: Presenting Your Case

Jury Selection: If applicable, a jury is selected to hear the case.

Opening Statements: Both parties present their opening statements to the jury, outlining their positions and what they intend to prove.

Presentation of Evidence: Witnesses testify, and documents are presented as evidence to support each side's claims.

Cross-Examination: Attorneys have the opportunity to question the opposing party's witnesses.

Closing Arguments: Both parties make closing arguments summarizing their case and the evidence presented.

5. Verdict: The Court's Decision

The jury or judge (in non-jury trials) delivers a verdict, determining whether the defendant is liable and, if so, the damages to be awarded.
6. Post-Trial Motions: Challenging the Verdict

Motion for Judgment Notwithstanding the Verdict (JNOV): A request to the court to overturn the jury's verdict if it's legally unsupported.

Motion for a New Trial: A request for a new trial due to legal errors or misconduct during the trial.

7. Appeals: Reviewing the Decision

If either party is dissatisfied with the trial court's decision, they can appeal to a higher court to review the case.
8. Enforcement of Judgment: Collecting Damages

If the plaintiff wins, they can take steps to collect the awarded damages from the defendant.
9. Conclusion: Seek Legal Counsel

While this roadmap provides a detailed overview, civil litigation can be intricate. Legal representation is often essential to navigate the nuances of the Texas civil procedure effectively.
Remember, this roadmap outlines the general process, but individual cases can vary significantly. Consulting with an attorney who specializes in civil litigation is advisable to address your specific situation accurately.

We hope that it never happens to you. But if it does, please get help. Report it. Make a police report, HR report, whatever you need to do. Do not assume nothing will happen to the Predator. IF you do nothing, it is guaranteed that nothing will happen. Call and get help from counselors, friends, family, outreach groups, hotlines, or even us at Carpenter & Associates, PC TX. Do not let it just happen. FIGHT BACK. Everyone is worthy of human decency and dignity. And yes, that includes you.

32 SHOCKING SEXUAL ASSAULT STATISTICS FOR 2023

Written by
Jenifer Kuadli

General Statistics about Sexual Assault
Although statistics on sexual assault can’t even begin to convey the suffering of victims and their families, they can offer a glimpse into the disturbing extent of the issue.
1. In 2019, over 652,676 women were r***d.
This figure excludes non-r**e sexual assaults but includes date r**e statistics; if included, data from non-r**e sexual assaults would take the figure closer to the one million mark. What’s worse, it has been rising for the last decade at an annual rate of 2.9%, and this trend shows no sign of decreasing.
2. Over 40% of women in the US have encountered sexual violence.
Sexual abuse, as shown by r**e and sexual assault statistics, has affected 41.8% of women in the US who have been victimized by sexual violence other than r**e.
3. Nearly 80% of female sexual assault victims experience their first assault before the age of 25.
Exactly 79.6% of female victims who have experienced one or more completed r**e did so before the age of 25.
4. Around 20% of American males have been the victim of sexual violence.
According to Rainn statistics, outside of the correctional system, most r**e victims are female. However, studies show that 21.4% of males in the US have been the victims of sexual violence and have experienced this outside of any prison facility.
5. A quarter of male victims of sexual assault were under 10 years of age.
According to studies, an estimated total of 28% of male victims of sexual assault in the US will have experienced their first assault at 10 years of age or younger.
6. R**e Statistics show that less than 20% of r**es are reported.
It is estimated that only 19% of r**es, completed or attempted, are reported annually. This figure runs consistently across the board. The general consensus is that r**e is still considered something shameful, hence victim reluctance.
7. Women and men with disabilities face twice the risk of sexual assault than able-bodied individuals.
Sadly, data gathered from watchdog organizations and US sexual assault statistics have found that disabled people were twice as likely to be victims of sexual assault than able-bodied people. Statistics of sexual abuse show that the majority of these heinous assaults were carried out in care environments (both facilities and home care). Yet, they were also reported as taking place during hospital or general practitioner sessions, as well as in individual therapy sessions.
8. Nearly 20,000 sexual assaults were reported in the military last year.
A study on the level of sexual assault within the military from 2010 revealed sexual violence statistics that showed a figure of 3,577, of which only a quarter took place during deployment in combat zones.
The study was repeated in 2019, and the sexual assault stats showed over 19,000 sexual assaults had now taken place in the US military.
9. 7.2% of all children surveyed in 2019 had been victims of sexual assault.
Child sexual abuse statistics highlight the harrowing revelation that teens aged 14 to 17 were in the highest risk category for sexual assault, with more than one in four adolescents (27.3%) having been sexually victimized during their lifetimes.
10. Approximately 70 women commit su***de every day in the US following an act of sexual violence.
Women sexual assault statistics reveal some extremely disturbing facts. An estimated 70 women commit su***de daily in the US, directly as a result of sexual violence. Worryingly, this figure has grown by 2.87% over the last year.
11. Sexual violence incidents, preceded by stalking, increased by 1.9% in 2019.
According to statistics and sexual harassment facts from 2019, the incidents of stalking that led to sexual assaults have increased steadily over the last year. What makes this figure even more alarming is the fact that initiatives were put in place to prevent and protect victims from such occurrences. So, governmental legislation and thinking about the issue must be reviewed.
12. During 2019, 13% of all women in California were victims of r**e.
Sexual harassment statistics reflect a large percentage of Californian women have been reported as having been a victim to an attempted or completed r**e in 2019. Current r**e statistics by state show that 13% of all Californian women are in danger of being a victim of sexual assault.
13. Statistics show that 1 in 6 US women will be r***d annually in the US.
Surveys and r**e statistics by gender have found that 1 in 6 American women, and 1 in 33 American men has experienced an attempted/completed r**e as a child or adult. This disturbing figure has been predicted to rise exponentially over the next three years.
14. Over 1.5 million women were r***d by an intimate partner in 2019.
Statistics on sexual harassment from the Department of Justice suggest that over 1.5 million women and 834,700 men are r***d and/or physically assaulted annually by an intimate partner in the United States. This staggering figure is both disheartening and unnerving.
Experts have created focus groups to analyze and explore these sexual assault statistics by state in more depth.
Little Known Facts About Male Victims of Sexual Violence
According to sexual assault statistics, males are also high-risk victims of sexual violence.
Which means that:
Sexual abuse is not limited to females, and the abuse of boys has little to do with either the abuser’s or the victim’s sexual orientation.
Perhaps unsurprisingly:
Male r**e statistics show that most perpetrators of male sexual assault are men. These predators choose to r**e both gay or straight men because r**e is an act of aggression and domination, not of sexual desire.
Contrary to popular belief:
Girls and women can most definitely be perpetrators of sexual violence toward males, and instances of this kind are more prevalent in society than most people realize.
In contradiction to the sweeping statement thinking of most people, male sexual assault statistics have now proved that most males who experience sexual assault (at any age) do not automatically go on to become sexual abusers.
In many cases:
According to gun violence statistics, attackers can use various weapons, physical force, or even the threat of force to gain the upper hand. Others, according to r**e victim statistics, may use blackmail or their position of authority to threaten someone into submission.
15. Approximately 16% of males in juvenile prisons have been sexually abused.
A 2019 study by the US Center for Disease Control examined woman r**e statistics in juvenile prisons for incidents and frequency of sexual violence. The results showed that 16% of males had been victims of sexual abuse, whereas over 60% of males in these facilities had encountered the threat of sexual violence.
16. In Florida alone, a staggering total of 1,477,000 men have been victim to sexual assault.
In Florida, 20.4% of men, or 1,477,000 men, have been victimized by sexual violence over the last decade.
17. Over 25% of male sexual assault victims will experience their first assault before 10 years of age.
According to sexual assault statistics 2019, studies and statistical analysis, in excess of 25% (27.8% to be exact) of male victims of sexual assault will probably experience their first attack by age 10 or younger.
18. Nearly 40% of adult males that experience sexual violence from an intimate partner are left with psychological scarring.
Reports and studies on US r**e statistics show clearly that 39.7% of men who have experienced sexual assault from their partner such as r**e, stalking or physical violence, are left with long term impacts such as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and other types of psychological injury.
19. New York statistics show that 18% of all r**es in the city involved a male victim.
According to r**e statistics, extensive studies, and focus groups, 2019 involved a record high of male r**e victims within the city, with a record high figure of 18% - which is 5.7% higher than 2018.
Sexual Assault Effects on Society
20. Over 80% of sexual assaults are committed by an acquaintance.
Relatives, teachers, religious leaders, former spouses - unfortunately, the list of possible attackers is one of people who will most often have a very intimate relationship with the victim. Statistics on r**e indicate that this connection normally results in most r**e victims shying away from reporting such incidents due to obligatory or emotional pressures.
21. Almost 95% of child victims knew their sexual attacker.
R**e stats by RAINN show that the vast majority percentage (93.98%) of child victims in the US in 2019 were familiar with their attacker. In almost all of these cases, as reflected by teenage sexual assault statistics, the child had spent a significant amount of time (10 plus hours, in one full duration or segmented) with their attacker prior to the sexual assault taking place.
22. The rate of false r**e claims in the US is well below the 10% average mark.
Although false r**e claims do happen, it is important to keep in mind that the majority of r**e claims are legitimate, as sexual assault statistics reveal.
In fact, data collated in 2019 from false r**e statistics, shows that a combined rate of 6.9% of r**e claims were false.
23. Sexual assaults cost the US billions of dollars annually.
Findings from college sexual assault statistics and other reports show that although sexual assaults take heinous tolls on their victims and cause terrible emotional damage, there is another cost that is rarely factored into such tragic events - the cost on society in financial terms.
According to stats on sexual abuse, when we factor in the costs of funding and running sexual assault services, the resulting lower educational aspirations (a common affliction amongst adolescents who have been the victim of child abuse), and the cost of lost earnings of victims who have been traumatized to a point where they are unable to work, the costs on the US annually are in excess of $450 billion. A staggering figure on paper, and one that has, according to stats on sexual assault, been increasing yearly by 1.8% on average.
24. 69% of r**e victims in the US are women aged between 12 to 34 years old.
Sexual violence figures from 2019 were significantly higher compared to sexual assault statistics 2018. The 12-34 age bracket has been known to encompass the majority of r**e victims in the US on an average year.
25. Transgender college students have a 5% higher rate of getting r***d than other students.
After conducting studies on sexual assault statistics by gender, US colleges have reported a rise in sexual attacks on transgender students. College r**e statistics about transgender, genderqueer, and gender-nonconforming (TGQN) students have shown that in 2019 an average of 23% of students were in danger of being sexually assaulted, compared to 18% of non-TGQN students. These stats are concerning because they are significantly higher than college sexual assault statistics 2018, which means the problem is getting out of control.
26. Bisexual women are more than twice as likely to victims of r**e than straight women.
Of all the women at the greatest risk from sexual assault in the US, bisexual women are statistically in the danger zone. Sexual abuse statistics show that 46% of bisexual women reported being a victim of sexual assault in 2019, compared to 17% of straight women.
Furthermore, sexual assault on college campuses statistics show an interesting correlation, which reveals that bisexual men face similar issues, with 47% of them being victims of sexual violence, compared to 21% of heterosexual men.
27. The majority (90%) of r**e victims are female.
Findings from sexual assault reporting statistics have unsurprisingly revealed that women make up the vast majority of r**e victims. This figure reflects r**e statistics US and includes adult victims but excludes juvenile victims, who, if included, would total 82% of all r**e victims.
28. An American is sexually assaulted every 93 seconds.
Sexual assaults are on the rise throughout the whole of the US. On average, state by state comparative analysis (including r**e statistics by race data) shows that there are approximately 325,566 victims of r**e and sexual assault (age 12 or older) in the US every year.
29. People with disabilities are twice as likely to be victims of r**e and sexual assault as those without disabilities.
Both males and females with disabilities experienced higher rates of victimization than able-bodied males and females. Surprisingly, r**e statistics in the US show that those with a type of cognitive-functioning disability were at higher risk of violent victimization than those with any other type of disability.
30. Girls and women between the ages of 16 and 19 are 4x more likely than girls and women in other age groups to be assaulted or r***d.
Results gathered from numerous studies show that campus sexual assault statistics have found patterns on the locale of victims. In general, 46% of sexual assault victims were sleeping or performing another activity at home when they were victimized.
Nearly 23% were traveling to and from school or work, shopping, or running errands. Some 19% were working when they were assaulted, 9% were attending school, and 19% were doing some other activity.
31. One out of every six American females is a victim of attempted or completed sexual assault.
According to sexual assault facts, one out of every six American women will most probably be the victim of an attempted or completed r**e in her lifetime. This ratio has doubled in the last five years, and analysts predict the same to happen over the course of the next half a decade.
1 in 33 American men (about 3% of the total percentage of women sexually assaulted) have experienced an attempted or completed r**e in their lifetime. This figure has increased by 22.4% over the last five years.
32. For every 1000 r**es in the US, 995 perpetrators will go unpunished.
Studies covering unreported sexual assault statistics show that the overwhelming majority of perpetrators will escape punishment of any kind.
US r**e stats show that too many victims are afraid to follow through with the legalities of their claim, leading to perpetrators escaping punishment of any form.
Sexual Assault Statistics: The Way Ahead
As you can see from the latest stats, the current state of sexual assaults in the US is fairly bad, and current measures do not seem to be working.
So, in addition to increasing awareness of sexual assault dangers, the stigma around sexual assaults needs to be lifted. This will encourage victims to come forward and prosecute attackers and also allow authorities to provide victims with the assistance and help they need in order to heal.

HOW TO COMBAT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
With the holidays approaching, it is an important time to address domestic violence also known as intimate partner violence (“IPV”). A recent study conducted by radiologist Bhartu Khurana, MD, FACR, FASER, reviewing assault-related injuries from 100 hospitals across the United States found that IPV is more prevalent during Christmas and New Year’s Eve. IPV increases over the holidays, for several possible reasons including:
• Stress from holiday shopping, finances, and planning can aggravate volatile personalities.
• Abusers are more likely to partake in alcohol or drugs when they don’t have to work.
• Simple opportunity: abusers are more likely to be home alone with their victims than at other times of the year.
Physical abuse is likely the most common type of abuse that comes to mind when people think of IPV. It involves various forms of assault, including pinching, pushing, hitting, choking, shooting, or stabbing. Furthermore, it includes anything that could cause physical harm, such as menacingly invading someone’s personal space, or creating fear of injury. However, IPV does not always have to be physical in nature. According to the Office of Violence Against Women, such violence is “a pattern of abusive behavior in any relationship that is used by one partner to gain or maintain power and control over another intimate partner. IPV can be physical, sexual, emotional, economic, psychological, or technological actions or threats of actions or other patterns of coercive behavior that influence another person within an intimate partner relationship.”
Cycle of Violence Theory
Lenore Edna Walker, a contemporary American psychologist, has been a proponent of women’s issues worldwide. She founded the Domestic Violence Institute and is credited for raising public awareness about the severe impacts of domestic violence. Walker, an independent clinical psychologist, saw clients in her practice in the 1970s who had been battered in their marriages. Analyzing the commonalities among her clients, she developed the “Cycle of Violence Theory,” which described the three stages of cyclical behavioral patterns that are commonly attributed to violence in an abusive relationship. Walker identified the three distinct stages of abuse as the Tension Building Phase, the Acute Battering Phase, and the Honeymoon Phase. Walker’s cycle of violence model has resounded with victims and violence prevention experts and is included in the majority of literature on violent IPV relationships.
Phase I: Tension Building Phase
This phase is the beginning of the violence, and it is characterized by a gradual escalation in verbal or minor battering incidents within the relationship. Oftentimes, the victim alters their behavior and takes the blame on themself. The victim tries to calm the abuser and attempts a variety of ways to placate them by catering to their needs while trying to not aggravate them further. According to Walker, the batterer in this phase expresses dissatisfaction but is not extremely explosive. This phase may last anytime from days to months, and it presages an increase in the level of violence between the couples. When the coping techniques of the victim fail, or the batterer remains unchanged in their behavior, it leads to Phase II of the cycle.
Phase II: Acute Battering Phase
This phase is distinguished by the uncontrollable release of tensions that have accumulated during Phase-I. This is the stage at which the batterer becomes extremely aggressive, endangering and injuring the victim. Walker described this as the cycle’s shortest and most brutal phase. The batterer’s major assault includes forcible restraint, severe physical, sexual and emotional abuse. The abuser, in this phase, explodes in a violent outburst as a result of the abuser’s increasing level of tension that it must be released. This phase depicts how the battered victim, exhausted from the constant stress, usually withdraws from the batterer, fearful of inadvertently setting off an explosion. As soon as the batterer notices the victim’s withdrawal, they begin to behave more aggressively and oppressively toward the victim, resulting in severe devastation. This is the phase when the victim is most likely to attempt to flee the abusive relationship, and intervention may be possible.
Phase III: Honeymoon Phase
This is the third stage of Walker's cycle of violence, which is followed by severe abuse. During this stage, the abuser profusely apologizes for the mistake, bestows the victim with gifts, and promises them that the violent behavior will never happen again. This convinces the victim to believe the batterer and gives them hope of resuming and repairing the relationship. Walker observes that generally, the victim returns to the batterer not because they miss the abuse but because they still believe they can make things better. This phase provides positive reinforcement and encourages the victim to stay. However, the cycle continues, and the batterer repeats their violent behavior. Furthermore, Walker also demonstrated that, in the absence of intervention and treatment, the majority of batterers will repeat the cycle, which leads to a severe and frequent form of violence in which the victim’s life is completely shattered. Walker refers to this as the cycle of severity and illustrates that the honeymoon phase will disappear as the frequency and severity of the violence increases.
Ending the Cycle of Abuse
There is no excuse for domestic violence and no one deserves to suffer from the violent and aggressive behavior of an intimate partner. If you are in an abusive relationship it is possible to break the cycle of abuse. Experts recommend creating a specific plan and implementing it to break the cycle and regain control of your life. To end the cycle of abuse, consider taking the following steps before leaving an abusive relationship.
1. Consider speaking to an attorney specializing in domestic abuse cases, especially if you have children. The attorney may be able to provide you with additional guidance regarding how to safely remove yourself from an abusive situation and potentially assist you in contacting law enforcement.
2.. Plan how you can safely leave when the abuser is absent, where you can go, and how to get out quickly if necessary.
3. If possible, keep evidence of the abuse, such as photos of injuries, hospital bills, and damaged clothing or possessions. Keep these items in a place where the abuser cannot find them.
4. Prepare a bag of essential items you will need if you leave quickly such as spare car keys, your driver’s license, important documents, medications, and valuable personal items. If possible, leave this bag with a trusted friend or family member.
5. Set aside money whenever you can to support yourself once you leave, and keep these funds where the abuser cannot find them.
6. Contact a domestic violence organization in your area for support and help to leave.
Unfortunately, it is not always easy for a victim to leave an abusive relationship on their own. We must remember that we all play a role in breaking the cycle of domestic abuse. This begins by following the 3 R’s: Recognize, Respond, Refer. First, recognize the signs of abuse. Second, you can do your part by responding appropriately to suspicions or allegations of abuse. If someone discloses domestic abuse, start by believing them and, without escalating the situation, attempt to assist the person with removing themselves from the abusive situation. Finally, refer abuse victims to an attorney specializing in domestic abuse cases, local or national domestic abuse organizations, or law enforcement.