Domestic Violence & Human Trafficking Defense
When the Victim Is the One Charged
When the System Gets It Wrong
When the system gets it wrong, we step in to make it right.
Every day, victims of violence are arrested for the very circumstances they’ve survived. At Miiko Anderson Law, we represent individuals whose stories were misinterpreted, whose trauma was misunderstood, and whose truth was lost in translation.
As a Certified Criminal Law Specialist, former Senior Deputy District Attorney, and national trainer on trauma-informed prosecution and human trafficking, Miiko understands what most defense attorneys never see: how quickly trauma can be mistaken for guilt.
Understanding Primary Aggressor Errors in Domestic Violence Cases
When trauma meets law enforcement, context can disappear.
In domestic violence investigations, officers are required to determine who the 'primary aggressor' is. But these assessments are often made in minutes — without full context, trauma training, or behavioral analysis.
Victims who defended themselves, froze, or acted in fear are frequently the ones arrested. Miiko has trained prosecutors, judges, and detectives across the country on how these mistakes happen — and now uses that insight to defend those wrongly accused.
Her approach includes:
Reconstructing the full course of conduct leading to the incident.
Reviewing police reports, 911 calls, and prior documentation of abuse or coercion.
Identifying patterns of control, intimidation, or self-defense.
Working with trauma experts and investigators to show the real story behind the charge.
Because justice requires more than a snapshot of one night — it demands understanding the entire relationship context.
Criminalizing Survival — Human Trafficking and Coercion-Based Charges
Sometimes, victims of exploitation are charged as offenders.
At Miiko Anderson Law, we represent individuals who were acting under coercion, intimidation, or trauma responses — not criminal intent.
Our defense includes:
Reviewing communications, timelines, and digital evidence for proof of coercion
Working with trauma and trafficking experts to validate survivor narratives
Challenging charging decisions made without full understanding of force, fraud, or coercion
Pursuing dismissals, diversions, or trauma-informed resolutions when possible
When a victim becomes a defendant, our role is to ensure their survival story isn’t used as evidence against them.
Our Approach
When Miiko takes a case, it’s because she’s seen the system misfire before. Her strategy is both investigative and human-centered — built on uncovering context, exposing bias, and reframing narratives that were reduced to a single moment in time.
Our process includes:
• Forensic review of digital, behavioral, and testimonial evidence
• Trauma-informed defense planning
• Expert collaboration for credibility and mitigation
• Early engagement with prosecutors to correct misinterpretations before trial
This approach is deliberate, not reactive — designed to protect clients from being retraumatized by the process meant to serve justice.
The Goal: Restoration and Recognition
Justice doesn’t just mean a case dismissed. It means the truth finally recognized. We fight for outcomes that restore dignity, remove stigma, and give survivors the space to rebuild.
At Miiko Anderson Law, we don’t measure success by conviction rates or headlines — we measure it by how fully a person’s story is understood and honored.