DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE
Law •
Charges • Defense
Misdemeanor •
Felony
Los
Angeles Criminal Defense Attorney
California Criminal Lawyer
Behind Closed Doors
Violence
directed at loved ones is against the
law. Being married, divorced, or dating
someone does not entitle you to hit,
threaten, or abuse those at home. In
California, this type of violence /
abuse is considered domestic violence
and can be charged as either a felony
or misdemeanor, depending on the extent
of the violence & type of injury.
Domestic
Violence - A Clear Definition
The definition of domestic
violence includes abusive
relationships where physical
violence, threatened
violence, and/or other forms
of abuse exist.
These relationships include:
- Spousal
- Separated or Divorced
- Cohabitant
- Dating
- Children in common
Domestic Violence and Children
Children can be the recipients of domestic
violence, either directly or indirectly.
When a child is the victim of physical
striking, verbal abuse, threats, or
sexual misconduct, domestic violence
charges are likely.
However, children do not have to be
the direct recipients of the violence
but only have to be present during the
abuse for child endangerment charges
to be justified. Child endangerment
is the abuse a child suffers when witnessing
domestic violence. Child endangerment
is a serious crime and charged under
the California domestic violence laws.
Domestic
Violence Laws
The California law is strict on domestic
violence offenders. This is why it is
extremely important to have an experienced
California criminal defense lawyer in
your corner.
If you’re a victim of domestic violence,
you should immediately contact your
local law enforcement agency. For the
victim of domestic violence, protection
should be sought using one of the following
means: They include:
- Emergency Protective Order
Valid for 5 days, this type of Restraining Order is issued by law enforcement.
- Temporary Restraining Order
For those cases that are not serious enough to be considered by the district attorney, this type of Restraining Order can be granted for 3 weeks up to 3 years. If this order is violated, he/she can be charged with:
- Contempt of Court
- Misdemeanor
- Jail time (up to 1 year)
If you need to file a Restraining Order, the criminal defense attorneys at Stephen G. Rodriguez & Associates are prepared to advise and assist on this matter.
Domestic
Violence
You Can’t ‘Drop the Charges’
Once charged with domestic violence,
it is very difficult to get the charges
dropped; no matter how hard your loved
one may fight.
In many California domestic violence
cases, especially with spousal abuse,
once an arrest has been made, a Prosecutor
will take over the case. When this happens,
even if the victim wants to forgive
and forget, the victim is simply a witness
and must take a back seat while the
Prosecutor moves ahead with the criminal
case.
Having a skilled criminal attorney in
your corner is your best means of defense.
Criminal
Law Specialists
The California attorneys at Stephen
G. Rodriguez & Associates practice criminal
law exclusively. All aspects of your
domestic violence case will be thoroughly
examined and explained in detail, including
any possible defenses. You will understand
exactly the potential outcome of your
case and alternative sentencing, if
needed.
Contact
Stephen G. Rodriguez for your best
California domestic violence defense.
Law
Offices of Stephen G. Rodriguez
633 West 5th Street
26th Floor
Los Angeles, California 90071
Telephone
(213) 223-2173