An individual who is arrested on family violence charges is in store for an emotionally volatile legal drama that has the potential to alienate him from his family. This matter can seriously disrupt their career, separate them from their children and possibly ruin their life. Oftentimes, family violence charges proceed directly to trial, regardless of whether the alleged victim even wishes to prosecute. Prosecutors show absolutely no mercy when it comes to levying charges against the desires of the supposed victim.
The bottom line is that family violence charges are quite serious. If you are accused of family violence, it is imperative that you secure the services of a skilled Houston family violence attorney. Failing to ally with such a legal professional could result in life-changing punishments and consequences.
Family violence is a matter that prosecutors pursue full-force. Prosecutors will proceed with a family violence case even if the alleged victim wants the case to be dismissed. This phenomenon occurs as prosecutors fear a violation of the supposed victim’s rights. Unfortunately, the defendant often suffers the consequences, even if he has been falsely accused in the midst of a heated verbal conflict with a family member. Police officers generally err on the side of caution by taking the word of the alleged victim. The defendant will be arrested even if the supposed victim changes their story to tell the truth about how the defendant is a genuinely innocent party. Police officers have adopted this course of action as standard operating procedure due to the fact that there is a seemingly endless number of domestic violence phone calls.
If you are arrested on family violence charges, you should know that they can further lead to felony charges. Certain family violence situations are categorized as misdemeanor offenses due to the nature of the conflict. An individual who has been arrested for family violence must understand that the charge has the potential to fundamentally alter his lifeforever. It is difficult to rebound from being found guilty, even if the offense is a misdemeanor. The potential for confinement and incarceration is a real possibility in the event of a guilty verdict for a misdemeanor offense.
Family violence charges can negatively affect your chances at landing a job, can prevent you from possessing a firearm or ammunition, and can impact your ability to have custody of your children. This is especially true for defendants who are in the midst of a contested divorce. A dramatic divorce sometimes prompts spouses to turn on one another and make false allegations of family violence. If you value the company of your children and would like to be a meaningful part of their lives, family violence charges are an even greater threat to you than the average person. This is precisely why it is critically important to refute and clear all family violence allegations in a timely manner. Otherwise, your rights will be in jeopardy.
If you are convicted of family violence, the charges will be on your permanent record for life – even a deferred adjudication probation involving domestic violence cannot be “sealed”. You might not be able to secure employment. The charges could even be stepped up to extremely severe felony charges due to a previous conviction. Be proactive by reaching out to our savvy family violence defense lawyers today. Give us a call and we will schedule your no-cost initial consultation. Our legal team will sit down with you to go over the idiosyncrasies of your unique case. Once a thorough review has been performed, we will proceed to craft the best possible legal strategy to safeguard your rights.