When you are accused of domestic violence, your immediate concern might be figuring out how you can keep your family together. This is understandable; however, you likely need to start focusing on a defense strategy because a domestic violence conviction can have very serious impacts on your life.
Domestic violence convictions can seriously impact your life
Domestic violence charges won't magically disappear
We recently discussed some of the harsh penalties that you might face for domestic violence charges. If you recall, you can face up to life in prison for a rape conviction that is related to domestic violence. While this might seem harsh, it is proof that you need to get to work on your defense right away.
You can face up to life in prison for rape as domestic violence
Maryland has very strict domestic violence laws that can have a serious impact on your life. If you are accused of domestic violence related actions, you should be prepared to fight for your freedom.
Try to minimize the effect of domestic violence charges
In our previous blog post, we discussed the fact that the victim in a domestic violence can't simply drop the criminal charges. This is something that people think can happen because it happens on some television shows and movies. The fact is that only the prosecutor or judge can drop the charges.
Victims can't drop domestic violence charges
There's a common misconception about criminal charges, and it's that the person who was victimized is the one who brings the charges against the person who is accused of the crime. That's how civil cases work, but it's not how criminal cases work. The state actually files those charges, not the victim.
Fight against the domestic violence charges
Domestic violence accusations can tear your family apart. You might think that everything is fine, but then you learn that you are facing criminal charges. We can understand how this would be a frightening situation to find yourself in. We are here to help you learn about your options for a defense.
Try to minimize the consequences of domestic violence accusations
Think about all the aspects of your life that are affected by an accusation of domestic violence. You might have to face criminal charges. You might face the end of the relationship. You could be prevented from seeing your children or other people because of court orders that were handed down because of the accusations. You might also face the social scrutiny and other life effects of this type of accusation.
Domestic violence charges can be devastating
When you and your significant other get into an argument, you probably don't expect that it will end with you facing domestic violence charges. Sadly, that is one possibility that can occur. In some cases, these charges are based on actual physical violence. In others, they are based on spurious allegations made by one spouse. In either case, you should make sure that you are ready to fight the charges, because they can adversely affect your entire life.
Ruling clarifies domestic violence convictions and firearms
We have often discussed how much a domestic violence conviction can have on your life. The United States Supreme Court has recently clarified that a domestic violence conviction can prevent a person in the United States from owning a firearm. That ruling might have you wondering exactly what you need to do to fight against the charges.
Domestic violence: Do I really need a lawyer?
Domestic violence allegations are very serious. If you are charged and convicted of domestic violence, the consequences can last the rest of your life. It can affect what kind of job you are able to hold and even where you can live. Even when the allegations are false, it's important to take them very seriously.
