If you are having trouble in your marriage, if there’s been a history of anger-management issues or if you are looking at a possible domestic violence (DV) charge, you need to understand the possible consequences involved with this type of charge.
Although DV or family violence is surprisingly prevalent (it is estimated that one in every three Texans may be victimized by family violence), the penalties are severe. It may come as a surprise that there are far more wide-ranging consequences for DV than merely the criminal penalties, though those are significant enough. Consequences can include serious limitations to your family life and your future.
Consequences for DV charges
If the police are called for a DV incident, the consequences could include:
- Protective orders: Protective orders can come from a criminal or civil proceeding. Although there are numerous types of protective orders, each with its own nuances and details, the gist is that you could lose access to your children and your spouse. You could be prevented from returning to your home or contacting your family in any way.
- Criminal consequences: A DV conviction brings penalties just like any other violent crime. You could face jail time, fines and other consequences from the criminal justice system.
- Reputation damage: The damage to your reputation that results from a DV case could be the most significant of all. Once a violent crime of this kind is on your record, the future will hold complicated challenges. Obstacles emerge in the way of getting a good job, renting a house or apartment, getting a lone and other opportunities.
Obviously, a DV charge is something that could result in serious consequences. You need to fight back aggressively if you’ve been charged with a violent crime against your family or household. There is too much at stake to take these charges lying down or to work with an inexperienced criminal defense lawyer.