What is Domestic Violence? This is a question many people have asked at some point. The definition of Domestic Violence is, “The use of physical force and violence by a married or current intimate partner against another intimate partner.” There are various forms of domestic violence, including: spousal abuse, child abuse, sexual assault, bullying, interracial abuse, and family abuse. There are also forms of domestic violence that do not fall into the above categories – such as “honor killing” or “petty” abuse. Regardless of whether or not you were hit cut or sexually abused by your spouse, you have a right to file a lawsuit.
There are all different forms of crimes that fall under the above definition. Some common forms of crimes that may also come under the umbrella of domestic violence are: homicide, manslaughter, kidnapping, assault, burglary, embezzlement, arson, voyeurism, assault and battery, hit and run, vehicular accidents, assault and battery on a child, battery on an officer, malicious damage and many other criminal acts. To file a criminal complaint against an alleged perpetrator, you need to contact a Seattle criminal defense attorney. Your Seattle Domestic Violence Attorney will inform you exactly what type of crimes you are charged with.
If the alleged abuser is a spouse, the victim must first go through a divorce proceeding with their spouse. In this type of situation, the victim will be able to present their case to the court as a whole, and not just a part of a case with their spouse as the central person. With regards to the abuse of children, once the divorce proceedings are complete, the Seattle domestic violence attorney will be able to inform the court and the prosecuting attorneys about what the specific laws are pertaining to child abuse. The attorney will be able to provide advice and assistance regarding how the child custody arrangements will be laid out, and will also be able to provide information regarding any other assets the victim or his/her spouse may have that could be used in the case.
When a person is arrested for these types of criminal charges, they should not be made to stand in front of the judge on their own. It is important to have the right legal representation during this extremely sensitive time. If you are being accused of DV, it is imperative that you contact an experienced Seattle DV lawyer immediately to ensure your legal rights and freedoms are protected. These types of charges are very sensitive, as they involve accusations of criminal behavior that may result in substantial time spent in jail. A Seattle criminal defense attorney can give you the advice you need to get yourself out of this predicament.
In some circumstances, there may be additional jail time involved, such as when a person is accused of domestic violence in addition to a misdemeanor crime, such as second-degree assault. There are specific laws that deal with the classification of aggravated or simple misdemeanor offenses, and these must be understood and followed when it comes to your case. An experienced Seattle domestic violence attorney will know which charges to bring and which ones should be negotiated, since he or she has handled many such cases in the past. The penalties associated with these crimes can range from probation to extended jail time and must be taken into account in your negotiations with the prosecution.
Charges of domestic violence are taken very seriously by the Washington State law enforcement agencies. Any time someone is accused of DV, they will be investigated thoroughly by police, including a thorough check of the person’s employment records and any background checking that may be conducted. Interviews will be made with all parties involved as well as any witnesses, and all data that is obtained in the course of the investigation will be held in strict confidentiality. If the prosecutor decides to proceed with a trial, he or she will find an experienced Seattle criminal attorney who has handled many such cases before. This criminal lawyer will be able to give you his or her professional opinion as to whether or not the charges against you are correct.