A Call to Action Fix Laws that Incentivize False Allegations & Leave Victims Defenseless

Stop Narcissistic and Malicious Abusers from Weaponizing the Legal System

Domestic violence laws were created to protect the vulnerable—but what happens when abusers exploit the very systems meant to safeguard victims? Narcissistic abusers often turn the legal system into a tool of manipulation, filing false accusations, abusing restraining order processes, and misleading courts to punish and control their victims.

This is legal abuse—and it must end.

Too often, narcissistic abusers are able to:
❌ File false allegations with little to no supporting evidence
❌ Exploit family courts to gain custody, control, and financial leverage
❌ Damage reputations, careers, and futures—without consequences

Does the implementation of Marsy’s Law unconstitutionally compromise the due process protections afforded to criminal defendants under the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments of the United States Constitution?

• Fifth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution: Guarantees that no person shall be “deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law.”
   
• Fourteenth Amendment: Extends this due process requirement to actions by state governments.
   
• Marsy’s Law (Amendment 6, Florida Constitution): Grants victims rights traditionally not extended to private parties in criminal cases, including the right to refuse discovery and to influence bail and sentencing.
   

The expansion of victim’s rights under Marsy’s Law risks creating a false equivalency between the rights of the accused and the rights of victims. In a constitutional framework, the accused is presumed innocent until proven guilty, and legal protections are in place to guard against abuse of governmental power.

By injecting victim interests directly into criminal proceedings—such as granting veto-like power over discovery, bail decisions, and plea agreements—Marsy’s Law disrupts the adversarial balance and potentially obstructs the accused’s right to a fair trial.

Furthermore, denying defendants access to key discovery tools—such as depositions or interviews of the accuser—impairs their ability to mount a complete defense, especially in cases where the credibility of the accuser is central. This undermines the principle that the burden of proof rests with the state, not the defendant. It may also delay proceedings and diminish the opportunity for expungement, as victims’ objections can obstruct efforts toward rehabilitation or closure.

While Marsy’s Law aims to support victims of crime, certain provisions may violate the due process rights of criminal defendants by transforming criminal proceedings into disputes between private citizens and eroding the presumption of innocence. The law should be narrowly interpreted to avoid infringing upon constitutional protections and must not allow victims’ participation to supersede the rights of the accused.

We demand legislative reforms that:
✅ Require substantial evidence before issuing restraining orders
✅ Penalize false accusers for perjury and misuse of the courts
✅ Ensure due process so innocent people are not wrongly punished

We, the undersigned, petition the State of California to amend domestic violence laws to recognize emotional and psychological abuse—especially by narcissistic abusers—as criminal acts, not merely civil infractions.

Physical violence leaves bruises. Narcissistic abuse leaves invisible scars just as deep.

Victims often experience:
❎ Loss of Identity & Autonomy – Constant gaslighting and manipulation erode self-worth and trust in one’s own reality
❎ Long-Term Psychological Harm – Depression, anxiety, and complex PTSD are common among survivors
❎ Trauma Bonding – A psychological trap that makes leaving the abuser even harder

Scientific research shows prolonged emotional abuse causes neurological damage:

• 🧠 Amygdala: Heightened fear and anxiety response
   
• 🧠 Prefrontal Cortex: Difficulty regulating emotion and decision-making
   
• 🧠 Hippocampus: Impaired memory and ability to form healthy relationships
   

California’s current laws fail to:

• Provide criminal protections for emotional and psychological abuse
   
• Prevent courtrooms from becoming arenas for further abuse
   
• Hold false accusers accountable
   

1. Amend Penal and Family Codes to criminalize severe emotional and psychological abuse
    
2. Train law enforcement and judges to identify and properly handle narcissistic abuse
    
3. Standardize evidence collection in cases of psychological abuse
    
4. Support both survivors and the falsely accused with trauma-informed resources, legal help, and housing
    

The current system doesn’t just fail survivors—it rewards abusers who lie. False accusations weaponized by narcissists deplete court resources, punish the innocent, and cast doubt on genuine victims. Real justice requires accountability on all sides.

California can lead the nation by becoming the first state to fully criminalize narcissistic abuse and close the legal loopholes that enable it.

📢 Your voice matters.
📝 Your signature counts.
👥 Your support can help protect thousands.

No one should lose their sanity, freedom, children, or dignity because of a narcissist’s lies.

Sign the petition today. Demand change. Protect real victims.