Which of the following is a consequence of domestic violence in North Carolina?

In North Carolina, one of the significant consequences of domestic violence is that there are higher penalties when the victim is a partner or spouse. This is due to the recognition of the severe impact that domestic violence has on relationships and family structures. The legal system aims to address and deter such behavior by imposing stricter penalties for offenders in these relationships. The law considers the dynamics involved in partner or spousal abuse, reflecting a societal acknowledgment that domestic violence often occurs within intimate relationships and can have profound effects on victims.

The other options do not align with the relevant consequences for domestic violence in the state. For instance, while mandatory counseling programs might be part of a treatment plan, they are not uniformly applied as a direct consequence of domestic violence. Similarly, leniency in sentencing would contradict the state’s efforts to take domestic violence seriously, and community service alone does not fully address the complexities or seriousness of domestic violence offenses.