Facing domestic violence allegations can be overwhelming and frightening, with serious consequences that can affect your freedom, family, and future. A Reston domestic violence lawyer at The Leiva Law Firm understands how quickly these cases move and how serious the consequences can be.
Our firm is committed to protecting your rights, challenging the evidence, and guiding you through every stage of the legal process. Involving an experienced criminal defense attorney very early in the process will help you fight your case. Call The Leiva Law Firm today to start building your defense.
Virginia Code § 18.2-57.2 defines domestic violence as family abuse, which includes acts of violence, force, or threats of violence against a family or household member. This can involve the following:
Importantly, the law does not limit domestic violence to visible physical harm. In addition, the law has a broad definition for family or household members. They include the following:
Due to this broad definition, domestic violence laws can apply to a wide range of personal relationships, not only marriages. Your domestic violence defense lawyer in Reston will examine the relationship involved in your allegations.
A domestic violence conviction can carry serious and long-lasting consequences that extend far beyond the courtroom. Criminal penalties may include jail time, fines, probation, and mandatory counseling or anger management programs, depending on the severity of the offense and any prior convictions. Even a first-time offense may result in incarceration and court-ordered treatment.
One of the most significant consequences is the issuance of a protective order. A conviction may lead to a permanent or extended protective order that restricts your contact with the alleged victim and may require you to leave a shared residence. These orders also result in the loss of your firearms rights, which may be permanent under federal law.
A domestic violence conviction can also affect your employment opportunities, professional licenses, and housing, as the offense appears on background checks. If you have children, a conviction may affect your child custody and visitation rights, because courts prioritize the safety of children. Due to the serious legal, personal, and professional consequences, the earlier someone facing domestic violence charges in Reston seeks guidance from a knowledgeable defense attorney, the better.
Since domestic violence is a serious crime with extremely negative connotations, you might feel that there is a rush to pass judgment on you, regardless of the circumstances of your case. The prosecutor will want to win a conviction because they can claim credit for the outcome. You do not have to plead guilty to a domestic violence charge, no matter what the prosecutor says.
Further, you do not have to accept the first plea bargain deal that the prosecutor offers you just to get a quick resolution of your case. You have legal rights, regardless of what type of criminal charges you are facing. With the help of our lawyer in Reston, you have the option to fight the domestic violence charges against you in court or to negotiate to receive the best possible outcome in your case.
If you face charges of domestic violence, you need immediate legal help from an attorney with courtroom experience at The Leiva Law Firm. We can review the circumstances of your case and help determine your defense while working to protect your legal rights. The charges are far too serious to try to deal with the criminal justice system on your own. Call a Reston domestic violence lawyer from our firm today to learn how to fight these allegations.
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