Being charged with domestic violence can be one of the most damaging things to ever happen to your reputation and social standing within your community. The accusation alone can be enough to cause permanent damage to people’s perception of you. The damage that can be done to your work life, your personal relationships, and your mental health can be staggering. If you are not careful, everything could change. A Darien domestic violence defense lawyer can help you.
When you call a domestic violence defense lawyer, you should remember your lawyer is not there to judge you or make your life more complicated. Their primary goal is to simplify things for you and get you out of this difficult situation. Your lawyer can help you work out a viable defense strategy to challenge the charges against you and possibly even get them dropped.
If you are arrested by the police and charged with domestic violence, your next move should be to reach out to a defense lawyer. You may be feeling overwhelmed and confused. In this state, you need to be very careful what you say to the police. Remember, under your Miranda Rights, you maintain the right to remain silent. You do not have to say or answer anything the police ask you.
You may feel like the only way forward is to soldier on alone without the help of a domestic violence defense lawyer. You may even feel like hiring a lawyer equates to admitting guilt. This simply isn’t true. Hiring a lawyer means you are taking the accusation seriously and admitting that you need help.
If you ultimately decide not to engage experienced legal counsel, the repercussions can be disastrous for your case. It is vital that you have somebody on your side who understands how high the stakes are for you. A lawyer can bring experience, empathy, and knowledge to your case. Having experienced legal counsel is absolutely critical to the success of your case.
Georgia has enacted legislation like the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) to aid in helping domestic violence victims find their footing. Such legislation can make it tough to fight the domestic violence charge against you, even if there is no proof to support it.
When you are arrested for domestic violence, reality can set in quickly. When you are sitting in the back of the police car or in an interrogation room, you may be feeling like you have already lost. You may think there is nothing left for you but jail and the loss of a relationship. Don’t forget that you are innocent until proven guilty, and a good lawyer can help you build a strong defense strategy. Here are some possible defenses you could use:
A: There are multiple potential defense options one could use for a domestic violence case. One of the more commonly used ones is self-defense. By establishing self-defense, you can argue that you reacted to someone else’s violent attack by defending yourself. You have to prove you were in immediate danger or at least genuinely believed that you were.
A: The sentence for a conviction of domestic violence in Georgia depends largely on the details of the case and what happened to warrant an arrest. For a first-offense domestic battery conviction, one may face minor time in the county jail. For subsequent convictions, there could be substantial jail time, and if the charge is raised to aggravated assault, the penalties can be even harsher.
A: The statute of limitations for a domestic violence charge in Georgia is two years for a criminal case and four years for a civil suit. That means a domestic violence victim has two years to report their abuser to the police and four years to seek compensatory damages from them in civil court.
A: It’s difficult to determine how much a defense attorney may be in Georgia. Every lawyer is going to charge a different fee depending on how much they determine their services are worth to their clients. Additionally, lawyers’ fees are constantly evolving to reflect the growing market. A lawyer’s fee may account for the difficulties of your case, the resources they have to use, their experience, their education, and more.
It can be a humiliating and terrifying experience to be arrested for domestic violence charges. You may already feel like you have lost, and all that’s left is to be sent to jail. That’s not the case. An experienced domestic violence defense lawyer can make all the difference.
The legal team at Jarrett Maillet J.D., P.C. understands the kind of help you need to fight these charges and is prepared to support you. We can help you devise a defense strategy, make sure your interests are protected, and advocate for you in court. Contact us to schedule a consultation as soon as you can.