Many spouses and partners face domestic violence charges at some point or another, but simply facing charges is far, far different from a conviction or guilt of harm. If you currently face domestic violence charges, you must do everything you can to stop these charges in their tracks.
Charges of this nature often carry more than just legal penalties — they carry social stigma that is exceptionally difficult to outrun. The truth of the matter is that your charges very well may stem from a misunderstanding or exaggeration, with no regard to how the charges themselves may affect you even if there is never a conviction.
Furthermore, domestic violence defendants are often seen as low-hanging fruit for prosecutors, who regularly use such cases to promote their own careers and interests. When you choose to fight domestic violence charges, you are not only fighting for your own rights, but for the rights of others who do not have the resources or sense to persist on their own behalf.
Many defenses to domestic violence
Domestic violence charges may arise when there is not much evidence to actually prove any abusive or unwanted behavior took place, or when the accused is not the person who committed the crime.
An experienced attorney can evaluate your particular circumstances and determine how best to demonstrate that your charges are not what they seem.
In some cases, a defendant may face charges that rightfully belong to someone else, but a nosy neighbor or some other witness gave the arresting officers an indication that the defendant committed the crime.
Similarly, you might face false allegations from an angry partner or former partner who wishes to smear your name for a personal reason. False allegations like this are far more common than you might think.
These types of allegations regularly crop up when the two parties engage in divorce or custody proceedings. Commonly, one partner may allege violence by the other to get more leverage in the courtroom. Not only is this unfair, it is illegal. If a judge learns that a parent filed false abuse allegations for one’s own gain, it generally goes poorly for him or her in the divorce and custody decrees.
In some cases, what looks like domestic violence is actually self defense. If matters between two partners erupt, and one partner perpetrates violence against the other, becoming hurt in the process, they may claim their injury is from domestic violence.
Likewise, sometimes the true nature of the relationship is simply difficult to describe, and many people do not have the imagination or fortitude to understand that what looks like abuse to some is actually desired, consensual behavior to others. If you and your partner have a very special, physically aggressive relationship, it may look to others like domestic violence. However, when there is consent (and ability to give consent), domestic violence is much harder to prove.
Build a strong team quickly to preserve your freedom
Regardless of why your charges are unfair or untrue, you still face the very real danger of losing your freedom. Without a strong defense by an experienced attorney who understands the nuances of defending domestic violence charges, you may lose that freedom for a long time, and your reputation may suffer irreparable damage.
Don’t hesitate to begin building team to defend your freedom and your rights, as you fight for justice from false allegations.
