Frequently Asked Questions

Presented by a Los Angeles Domestic Violence Defense Attorney

In a domestic violence case, what are the criminal charges?

The most common domestic violence charges are corporal injury to a spouse or cohabitant, domestic battery, child abuse, child endangerment, elder abuse, and criminal threats.

What happens in a domestic violence case if the accused is not a U.S. citizen?

If you are an immigrant who is not a U.S. citizen, being accused of a domestic violence offense can have very serious consequences. If you are convicted, you may be deported. It is extremely important that you fight the charges and a possible conviction. A Los Angeles domestic violence defense lawyer at our firm can begin working on your case immediately, even before any charges have been formally filed. The sooner you contact us, the more effective we can be.

What happens after being arrested for a domestic violence crime?

The police officers who were called to the scene will write their reports, get witness statements, run a background check on you, and conduct further investigation of the situation. It is important at this time to get legal representation from a Los Angeles domestic violence defense attorney on our legal team at this time who can present a Pre-Filing intervention on your behalf, which can greatly enhance your case. The police then bring their written reports to the District Attorney's Office where a prosecutor will review your case and determine whether or not to formally charge you.

What if my spouse wants to drop the charges against me?

It doesn't necessarily mean that they will be dropped. Once the case has been taken over by law enforcement, it may be brought to the prosecutor who is the one who will decide whether or not there is enough evidence against you to proceed. Law enforcement will attempt to interview your spouse to find out why he or she has had a change of heart.

If I was arrested for a felony, will I be charged with one?

Not necessarily. The prosecutor will decide on what charge will be filed, based on the facts of your case and any pre-filing intervention on your behalf by your defense attorney. Often in these cases, felony charges are reduced to misdemeanor charges when you have a Los Angeles domestic violence defense attorney working on your case. In some cases, where there is not sufficient evidence, the case may be dropped entirely.

Does your firm present evidence of mitigation on behalf of clients in domestic violence cases?

Yes, of course. A defense lawyer at our firm will work to humanize you as a client to mitigate the consequences. We try to persuade the court that one instance of behavior which has brought you to court does not represent your life as a whole. If we did not intervene to show this, the criminal justice system may default to treating you as if this situation is a normal behavior on your part. We work diligently to show that it isn't.

Contact a Los Angeles Domestic Violence Defense Lawyer at our firm for legal assistance in a domestic violence case today.