Domestic violence is a major societal problem and the courts are beginning to play a bigger role in ending the cycle of family violence. Courts now realize jail sentences, fines, community service and intensive counseling are necessary to help abusers control their temper and manage their anger.

If you are a victim of domestic violence, you must act quickly to protect yourself. There are many social service agencies available that you can contact, and local law enforcement is there to protect you should the need arise. If you have been charged with domestic violence, you should keep in mind that the courts are not going to be sympathetic to an individual charged with beating a family member.

While domestic violence is filed in the county courts as a simple misdemeanor, the judges assigned to handle these cases treat a domestic violence situation with more urgency than many other crimes. Many people charged with domestic violence find it hard to obtain release from local jails as judges are concerned that their return home can result in escalated violence and injury.

If you are charged with domestic violence, it is very important that you contact competent legal counsel in order to help resolve the issue. Often an attorney can help you get the charges against you dropped before any prosecution. In other cases, charges are dropped after completion of a counseling program. Also, many times an attorney can get an individual released on bond.

Domestic violence can result in two court cases. The first is in the circuit court, where the victim can get an Injunction Against Domestic Violence. This is a civil action to protect the Petitioner from the alleged perpetrator. The accused aggressor is ordered to vacate any joint residence the parties may have been sharing and to refrain from contacting them in any way or from going on or about the premises where the victim lives or works and from approaching them in public.

The second case is a criminal charge sometimes called “Domestic Violence – Battery.” Domestic Violence – Battery is a serious offense from the standpoint that it carries a jail sentence of up to one year in the county jail and/or a fine of $1,000.00. Maybe even just as important, if children are involved, being the aggressor may prejudice the time sharing you have with your children and you may be ordered to attend a batterers’ intervention course.

Our firm has extensive experience in both helping clients obtain injunctions and in defending people charged with domestic violence.