Know Your Rights And Options When Charged With Domestic Violence
Family and relationship dynamics are messy, to say the least. There are at least two sides to every story, even in disputes that end with police intervention. Unfortunately, as soon as law enforcement gets involved, the narrative can shift, facts can be distorted, and blame often becomes one-sided.
If you’ve been arrested for and/or charged with domestic violence, you need to seek the help of an experienced defense attorney as soon as possible. My legal practice, Lewin Law Firm, PLLC, is focused exclusively on providing knowledgeable and trial-tested criminal defense to clients in West Palm Beach and throughout Florida.
Understand The Accusations And Charges You Face
The first step in any criminal defense matter is understanding what you’ve been charged with and the potential consequences if convicted. Here are just some of the charges I have helped clients address:
- Violation of a restraining order
- Domestic violence battery strangulation (charged as a felony)
- Battery on a pregnant person
- Domestic violence battery misdemeanor offenses
- Sexual battery with force and certain other sex offenses
It is important to note that domestic violence charges are far less gender-specific than many people assume. Approximately half of the clients who seek my help in this area are women. People of any gender and relationship type may find themselves facing charges, and all have a right to effective legal representation.
Numerous Defense Strategies May Be Available
When building a legal strategy, the first question to ask is: Does the alleged victim want to press charges? If not, I can often convince prosecutors to drop the charges. If so, I will begin an investigation with a standard set of standard questions. Were you acting in self-defense? Were you illegally searched by law enforcement? If there were photos taken of the alleged victim’s injuries, were those photos altered in any way? I thoroughly examine all details of your case to maximize your legal options.
Clearing Your Record After Dismissal Or Acquittal
I am often able to help clients get their charges dismissed or achieve an acquittal. But even under those circumstances, charges will typically stay on your criminal record, where they can continue to damage your reputation and your future job prospects.
The solution, when available, is to petition to have the charges expunged. In Florida, you can often expunge a record of domestic violence arrests and charges if you were found not guilty, if the charges were dismissed or dropped, or if no official charges were ever filed.
This process is not automatic, however, and is typically easiest with the help of an attorney. For an additional fee, I can help you petition the court to expunge records related to your domestic violence accusation.
Don’t Wait To Seek Experienced Legal Help
Domestic violence charges are always serious, and they are difficult to defend without the help of an experienced attorney. If you are facing charges, contact me, attorney Daniel Lewin, at Lewin Law Firm, PLLC, today to protect your rights and maximize your legal options. To schedule your free initial consultation, call my West Palm Beach office at 561-425-6250 or send me an email.