Previously thought of as a ‘private matter’, such offenses were historically underreported and underprosecuted. Over the past twenty years, arrests and prosecution for offenses falling under the broad category of Domestic Violence have risen dramatically, and the penalties associated with convictions for such offenses can be substantial. The outcomes can include incarceration, probation, mandatory counseling, loss of family contact and more. And the collateral consequences that such convictions carry beyond those imposed by the Judge can also be very significant. You may lose the right to vote, get school loans, possess or purchase firearms, or receive certain government benefits, including certain loans and housing opportunities. A conviction can injure your standing in the community, hamper your employment and income potential, and can have a dramatic impact on personal relationships, and even with family members.

If you are facing domestic violence charges, it is crucial that you retain an experienced and aggressive attorney who knows how to investigate and present your case. There may be an available defense, such as fabrication or justification (“self defense”), but the prosecutor might not be willing to listen, and your defense isn’t worth much if your attorney doesn’t know how to take the information you provide them with and develop it into a viable trial defense. If you are charged with a crime of domestic violence, you will certainly need an attorney who knows how to investigate your case and present it in the best possible light, whether in front of a trial jury or in a presentation to the prosecutor.