27 Jun Domestic Violence Crimes Have Harsher Consequences in Arizona
Domestic violence is a serious charge in the state of Arizona. And because domestic violence charges increase the penalties for crimes like assault, they can put you behind bars even longer. Punishments for domestic violence crimes rise significantly if you have previous convictions, but even if it is your first charge, the consequences will still impact your life.
Domestic Abuse Charges Cover More Than Physical Violence
Arizona’s penal code defines domestic abuse as acts of abuse against someone who lives in your household, or a family member (like a partner, child, parent, or sibling). The definition of domestic violence covers physical abuse as well as sexual, emotional, and verbal forms of abuse.
Physical Abuse Crimes
- Homicide
- Assault
- Aggravated Assault
- Endangerment
- Neglect
- Kidnapping or Imprisonment
- Cruelty to family pets
Sexual Abuse Crimes
- Sexual assault and other sexual offenses
- Revenge porn
- Taking unwanted photos or videos
Emotional and Verbal Abuse Crimes
- Threatening or intimidating someone in person or on the phone
- Custodial Interference
- Trespassing
- Criminal damage
- Disorderly conduct
- Stalking
- Preventing phone use in an emergency
The Punishments for Domestic Violence in Arizona
In the state of Arizona, domestic violence is considered an additive charge. For example, assaulting your partner will land you a domestic assault charge as opposed to charges of assault only.
Whether the crime is a misdemeanor or felony, adding charges of domestic violence to another crime alters the sentencing requirements. And if you have any prior domestic convictions, the penalties for domestic crimes increase even more.
Domestic Violence Penalties
As explained above, domestic violence is an additive charge that increases the penalties for other crimes (such as sexual assault).
Domestic violence penalties allow for:
- 1 year above the maximum jail or prison sentence
- Inability to have the charge set aside or expunged
- Requirement to pay for and complete an accredited domestic violence offender treatment program
Aggressive Domestic Violence Penalties
The definition of aggravated domestic violence is having two or more domestic violence charges in a 7-year period. This additive to the charge turns all violations into a class 5 felony and changes the required minimum prison time.
With Two Previous Domestic Violence Charges:
- Minimum prison time of 4 months
- Inability to have the charge set aside or expunged
- Loss of eligibility for parole, pardon, or suspension of sentence
- Requirement to pay for and complete an accredited domestic violence offender treatment program
With Three Previous Domestic Violence Charges:
- Minimum prison time of 8 months
- Inability to have the charge set aside or expunged
- Loss of eligibility for parole, pardon, or suspension of sentence
- Requirement to pay for and complete an accredited domestic violence offender treatment program
The state of Arizona has recently added an amendment to its domestic violence statutes to include harsher punishments if the victim was pregnant at the time. It allows for two additional years to be added to the maximum sentence allowed.
Contact a Lawyer If You Are Charged with Domestic Abuse
When domestic violence is added to another charge, the consequences are harsher, and the stakes are higher.
Spending time in jail or prison and having a criminal record can cause great upheaval in your life. These charges can impact your social relationships, job opportunities, and housing applications. That is why it is extremely important to hire a lawyer to help you navigate the complicated Arizona justice system.
Todd Coolidge has over 25 years of experience in Arizona’s criminal courts. His belief that everyone deserves a fair trial and a good lawyer is the backbone of our practice. We treat every case with respect and careful consideration. Contact us today for a consultation on your case.
Images used under creative commons license – commercial use (6/26/23). Photo by Liza Summer