The domestic violence penalties vary largely in accordance with the type of offence, criminal history of the offender, harm infected to the victim, and the victim’s age. Unfortunately, domestic violence is not uncommon and includes a range of different charges. However, it usually involves the former or current intimate relationship between the perpetrator and victim, which results in emotional and physical injuries.
Some instances of domestic violence include child abuse, stalking, battery, elder abuse, violence, and threats.
Domestic violence victims
Most domestic violence crimes are related to former spouses, engaging in abusive behavior with one another. IT results in one spouse hitting the other, leading to a visible injury. You should know that domestic violence charges can even be filed against domestic partners, dating partners, cohabitants and former dating partners.
Other offenses that come under this category of crime includes injuring children while being punished by a caretaker, parents, or someone entrusted with the care of a child. Besides, child endangerment includes allowing or placing a kid in a risky situation. If you even allow situations like allowing your boyfriend to harm a child physically or operating a drug operation outside the home, it’s considered as child endangerment and highly punishable.
Elder abuse leads to multiple offenses and such cases include emotional and physical abuse, financial exploitation, abandonment, and endangerment.
Violence threats perceived by the victim with the intention to implicitly cause serious physical injury can be perpetrated. Domestic violence can be related to your ex-spouses, current spouse, dating partners, cohabitants, and children when it comes to domestic violence.
Penalties for domestic violence
Generally, domestic violence opens can be charged in the form of either a felony or misdemeanor with the penalties widely varying among the states.
The major difference between a fail-on misdemeanor charge depends on the injury severity and whether the offender has criminal history. The offense can be upgraded if the victim is a kid. The penalties also include the following
- Jail
- Huge fines
- Community service
- Alien deportation
- Supervised children visits
- Parental right termination
- Protective or restraining orders
- Intervention programs for anger management
Jail time is not usually imposed unless there is a serious physical injury or continuation in the violence pattern. If the offender comes with a criminal record, jail time is declared to ensure the safety of the victim. The time for incarceration usually ranges from a month or 30 days to a decade. Resolving a domestic violence case becomes easier with a professional lawyer having knowledge about this niche.
Why hire a professional lawyer?
We have often seen people involved in toxic relationships accused wrongly of domestic violence. A professional and experienced lawyer who specializes in domestic violence cases is the best option to ensure that you receive your legal rights. Do not delay in such cases because the earlier you file, the better it is. With the assistance of a professional lawyer, your case will be thoroughly investigated.