12 Jan Penalties for Domestic Violence in Chandler

Domestic violence is no laughing matter. If you are being charged with a “domestic” offense–even if the crime isn’t violent–you run the risk if convicted of having a permanent mark as a domestic violence offender on your record. Even if your dispute was simply a misunderstanding, you don’t want to risk having a criminal record as a result. It is very important to have an experienced criminal defense attorney on your side when you are facing charges of domestic violence in Chandler because, like drunk driving, Arizona courts don’t hold back when it comes to prosecuting domestic cases.

“This isn’t fair. The Fight was Mutual!”

To put it simply, the arresting officer has leeway to make his or her best judgement. If that officer has reason to believe that if you are not removed further disruption or violence may take place, he or she has the legal authority to arrest you. The officer merely needs probable cause and the officer doesn’t even need to personally witness the domestic dispute taking place. Additionally, fair or not, in many of these cases women are believed more often than men.

What are the Penalties?

Not all domestic violence charges actually involve physical violence. So the charges can vary quite drastically. Any of the following charges can be classified as “domestic violence” if you have a relationship with the victim: criminal trespassing, assault, kidnapping, threatening, disorderly conduct, harassment and criminal damage.

Aggravated & Serious Domestic Violence

If you are charged and convicted of domestic violence repeatedly, on your third offense you may be charged with a felony. This aggravated domestic violence charge can lead to up to 2.5 years in prison as a Class 5 felony. If the domestic violence is a serious domestic assault, this is a far more extreme penalty. This class 3 felony can lead to between 5-15 years in prison.

Are you dealing with charges of domestic violence in Chandler, Scottsdale or elsewhere in the metro-Phoenix area? Contact Todd Coolidge immediately!

*The information in this blog is for general information purposes only. This blog post should not be taken to constitute a formal recommendation or professional advice. We exclude all representations, warranties, legal liability or responsibility relating to its content.

Images used under creative commons license – commercial use (1/12/2017) David Hurt  (Flickr)