4 Major Mistakes To Avoid After Being Charged With A Domestic Violence Offense

Being arrested for a domestic violence offense, especially domestic assault, can have a lasting effect on your life. No matter what the circumstances of the arrest were, it is important to react properly and promptly. Failure to do so can cause complications with your case that will not benefit you. If you have been arrested with any type of domestic violence offense, including domestic assault, it is very important to avoid making the following major mistakes:

Not Taking the Charge Seriously

If you are convicted of a domestic violence offense, you life can change in a number of ways. You will no longer be able to own or use a gun or ammunition. You may not be able to get a fingerprint clearance card that is required by certain professions. It can be more difficult to secure employment due to background checks, and renting an apartment or house can also be harder if you have a domestic violence conviction on your record. If you are fighting domestic violence charges, it is essential to take the charges very seriously.

Failing to Hire an Attorney

One of the first things you need to do after being charged with a domestic violence offense is hire an attorney. Failing to hire an attorney greatly reduces the chance of being acquitted of the charges, having the charges dropped, or receiving a favorable plea deal that will dismiss the charges if you complete certain requirements required by the court. Hiring an attorney is not cheap, but not having one can lead to issues that you have to deal with for many years or even the rest of your life.

Assuming Charges Can Be Dropped by the Alleged Victim

Many years ago, an alleged domestic violence victim could drop charges in some states and municipalities. However, domestic violence is a major issue, and the courts system is cracking down. Once the police are contacted and an arrest is made, the alleged victim does not have the option to drop charges. Charges are brought up by the state, and if a prosecutor has enough evidence to move forward, your charges will stand and you will need to go through the court system no matter what the alleged victim feels about the matter.

Contacting the Alleged Victim  

While your domestic violence case is going through the court system, it is incredibly important to not contact the alleged victim if a no contact order is in place. Doing so can cause a lot of problems, and depending on the type of contact that you have, you may be able to be charged with additional offenses that can harm your current case.   

For more information, contact a local attorney like Cheryl Brown Attorney at Law.