Law enforcement authorities in Seattle take allegations of domestic violence very seriously. Sometimes just an accusation alone can have serious consequences in your personal and professional life, and not every accusation is legitimate. However, you still have rights in this situation, and enforcing those rights is crucial to protecting your own best interests, and those of your loved ones as well.
Representation from a skilled criminal defense attorney is key to achieving a favorable result from a criminal case, especially these charges. If you have been arrested on suspicion of domestic violence or you may be soon, you should immediately contact a Seattle domestic violence lawyer.
Washington state law defines “domestic violence” very broadly to include any kind of unlawful act involving threatened or actual physical injury to a family or household member, including:
In this context, “household members” include adopted children, domestic partners, and relatives outside of an alleged perpetrator’s spouse and/or children by blood or marriage, as well as roommates cohabitating together.
Depending on the circumstances, a domestic violence offense can be classified as either a misdemeanor or a felony offense, with each classification carrying very different maximum penalties upon conviction. For example, that conviction of any DV offense (misdemeanor or felony) will result in a loss of one’s firearm rights. Those rights may be able to be restored after sometime but that depends on the type of conviction and will usually be many years in the future.
In addition, anyone who is arrested on suspicion of domestic violence will generally go through an expedited arraignment process which involves appearing in court on the next business day after their arrest. They will likely be subject to a temporary protective order until their criminal case concludes.
Our Seattle domestic violence attorney can go into further detail during a confidential consultation about what you should expect.
One important thing to understand about domestic violence allegations is you do not need to resolve them through a drawn-out trial. It is common—especially for first-time offenders with no criminal records—for accusations to be resolved with mandatory anger management classes, family counseling, and probation. This is possible with representation from a seasoned domestic violence lawyer in Seattle.
If a case does end up proceeding to a criminal trial, it is important to let legal counsel take the lead rather than trying to explain away a misunderstanding by yourself. This type of case often revolves primarily around testimonial evidence, so a single poorly phrased answer to a leading question could have an unfair impact on the outcome of a trial.
Domestic violence charges can be challenging on both legal and personal levels. No matter what led to these allegations or what your criminal history looks like, this is not the kind of case you want to handle without support from knowledgeable legal counsel. The sooner you get the help you need, the better your chances of achieving a positive case result.
A Seattle domestic violence lawyer from Sheed Law Offices will be your ally from beginning to end of your legal proceedings. Call today to schedule a private initial meeting.
425-236-2291