Domestic violence or family violence cases stem from a number of situations. Sometimes the allegations arise because one partner/spouse is jealous, one partner wants to end the relationship, or on partner wants to gain the upper-hand in a divorce proceeding where children are involved. These become the typical he said-she said cases that can be difficult to defend. If you are arrested for a domestic violence case, odds are that your bond conditions could keep you form going back to your house, not being able to call, text of talk face-to-face with the other person, and if there are kids, impact your ability to see them, let alone attend their school functions.
Another reason that folks may face domestic violence charges is because of a mental health issue. Someone suffering from schizophrenia, bi-polar disorder, or a schizoaffective disorder oft times have episodes involving loud, erratic, and sometimes violent behavior stemming from their mental health condition. They did not mean to hurt or strike that family member, it just happened because of the disease. As such, teaming with an experienced attorney that understands how mental health can impact one’s behavior is critically important when facing a domestic violence charge.
Not only can a domestic violence/family violence conviction result in jail time, or a fine, a prior conviction can make what would otherwise be a misdemeanor case into felony charge. Further, a domestic violence, or family violence, assault conviction carries with it a lifetime ban on owning a firearm, it is important that you retain an experienced criminal defense attorney. As such, it is important to have an experienced attorney by your side when faced with these types of charges.