Domestic Violence

Almost any offense committed by one person in a ‘couple’ against the other person in the couple is considered a “Domestic Violence” offense and the penalties are more severe than other offenses. The most common

Domestic Violence crimes are:
       • Assault
       • Harassment (push, shove, kick)
       • Telephone Harrassment
       • False imprisonment
       • Obstruction of telephone communications (hanging
        up the phone when someone is calling police)
       • Criminal Mischief (damaging another’s property)

In the past decade or so, most police agencies have implemented policies requiring that a party alleged to have committed a domestic violence offense be jailed, usually overnight, and that they not be released until the appear before a judge for the setting of a bond. A part of the bond almost always includes a requirement that the alleged offender not have any contact with the alleged victim. In addition there can be other restraining orders put in place to deter contact between the alleged offender and the alleged victim – even if the alleged victim does not want those orders in place.

In ‘domestic violence’ cases the ‘perpetrator’ is often required to attend ‘domestic violence counseling’ as a condition of any plea bargain or conviction in the case. These classes occur one night per week, for about two hours each time, for 36 to 52 weeks. Only very specific types of plea bargains or complete dismissals of the case can avoid this requirement.

It is important to discuss your case early on with an attorney experienced in handling these very specialized types of cases, such as the lawyers at Miller & Harrison, LLC