Many heated arguments turn into physical confrontation, where two partners get into a quarrel and begin forcing, shoving, and even striking each other. Then one individual contacts law enforcement. Of course when the authorities present themselves regarding the telephone call, someone is probably going to jail. It is important to know what domestic violence is and how to protect yourself if the situation were to ever occur.
If you or someone you know has been charged with domestic violence, contact a criminal attorney in your area today!
What is Domestic Violence?
Domestic violence is defined as any kind of abuse by one partner to another. This definition is not limited to physical abuse. Forms of abuse that count as domestic violence include:
- Physical
- Sexual
- Emotional
- Economic
Possible Penalties and Consequences of Domestic Violence
Generally this really is dependent on the degree of the actual traumas. Critical slashes as well as shattered bone fragments can nearly always lead to a criminal offence charge. Evidence of actual physical abuse will play a large role in the prosecutor’s decision to submit the case as a felony. Circumstances concerning absolutely no personal injury or minimal harm might be treated as minor misdemeanors.
Felony vs. Misdemeanor
During sentencing, the type of charge is very important. There is a difference between a felony and a misdemeanor charge, the former being much more serious and carrying much more severe consequences. The punitive measures regarding serious felony and smaller misdemeanor incidents may be as follows and may vary based upon your state:
- Felony: If the individual is charged like a serious felony, the particular defendant might serve a minimum of 24 months or even more within the federal state prison.
- Smaller Misdemeanor: If the individual is charged with a misdemeanor, the consequence isn't greater than 12 months inside the local county jail.
Get Legal Help
It doesn't matter how significant the particular incident was, the right attorney can almost always do something to help the situation. For a severe incident, your attorney will work to help you by getting you released from prison or lessening your sentence. For less severe situations, which make up the vast majority of cases, your attorney will try to keep the charges as a misdemeanor or possibly even have the charge minimized to disturbing the peace, which will involve just a fine with no domestic violence charges. Timing is critical to the success of your case, contact a criminal attorney today for your free case evaluation.