Being charged with domestic violence is a serious offence. You will have to go to court, hire a domestic violence lawyer and contest the charge. If you are found guilty, you could face severe consequences for your actions:
The Results Of Being Found Guilty Of Domestic Violence
Depending on your circumstances (more on that below), you could face different types of punishments. They can include:
- Being sent to jail for an amount of time.
- You could be given a suspended sentence, which means you are not sent to jail, but you will be placed under strict probation. You could also face probation both before and after your jail sentence as well.
- Court-ordered therapy and programs that have to be completed. This is usually offered to first-time offenders. Completing a program can result in you not having the conviction or charge put on your criminal record.
- A conditional sentence can be the result, which means that you will serve your jail time outside, such as being under house arrest.
- In some cases, you will have to pay restitution to cover the victim’s costs for personal injury, damages and court fees.
- You could have to pay a fine while serving probation.
When the court sentences you, it will assess the situation before making a final decision on your sentence. They will consider the following:
- The details of the offence
- How severe and dangerous the offence was
- Your previous criminal history
- If you have any prior history of domestic violence
- If you pleaded guilty before the trial or not (you would have discussed this with your criminal defence lawyer beforehand)
- The chances of you committing the same crime again in future
A Domestic Violence Lawyer Can Help You
The outcome of your charge will solely depend on how you represent yourself in the trial. It is imperative that you get a domestic violence lawyer to help you. They will be able to provide you with the support you need during your trial for domestic abuse.
Dunlap Law provides the legal support and representation you need for your criminal case. Dunlap law is experienced with impaired driving or criminal offence cases. Send an email to [email protected] or give us a call. Calgary: (403) 474-8222 | Edmonton: (780) 428-2267 | Toll Free: 1-866-247-2264