If you are facing charges for domestic violence, you need the help of an Indianapolis domestic violence attorney. At Suhre & Associates DUI and Criminal Defense Lawyers we have a team of strong, aggressive lawyers who will fight for your freedom. Contact us today at (317) 759-2599 for a free consultation.
Allegations of domestic violence can have immediate and long-lasting consequences. You can be arrested, charged with a crime, and face serious time behind bars. This is true, even if the allegations against you are false or exaggerated. The state will be represented by skilled prosecutors with one goal in mind: getting a conviction.
Hiring an attorney can level the playing field and put you in the best position to secure a favorable result. That’s why you shouldn’t hesitate to contact our domestic violence attorneys at Suhre & Associates DUI and Criminal Defense Lawyers for immediate assistance.
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Committed to Helping You Fight Domestic Violence Charges
Few things are more overwhelming and upsetting than getting arrested for a crime. The state will not make things easy for you. Prosecutors in Indianapolis will hope that you buckle under the pressure and accept whatever plea deal they offer.
When you turn to the Indianapolis criminal defense attorneys at Suhre & Associates DUI and Criminal Defense Lawyers for help, we’ll stand by your side every step of the way, from the moment you call until your case is complete. We’ll do everything we can to secure the best possible result in your criminal case, including:
- Launching an independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding your arrested and alleged crime
- Determine if the police and/or prosecutors handling your case violated protocol and/or your Constitutional rights
- Determine if evidence was gathered in violation of your rights
- Challenge the validity and/or reliability of any state evidence
- Interview witnesses, gather evidence, and identify possible alibis
- Conduct thorough legal research to identify the best strategies and arguments for your defense, and
- Consult with leading domestic violence and criminal experts in Indiana.
The prosecution will try to put a lot of pressure on you throughout the process. You don’t have to talk to them. In fact, it’s best that you remain silent and let us do the talking for you. Our seasoned criminal defense lawyers will handle all discussions and negotiations with the state on your behalf. We’ll explain what’s happening every step of the way and offer legal advice and guidance.
Our aggressive approach is designed to undermine the state’s case against you. In this past, this has helped us to secure favorable results for our clients. When you call our domestic violence lawyers for help, you can benefit from our experience and record of success. Enlisting our assistance could be the difference between time behind bars and getting the charges dropped, altogether.
What is Domestic Violence?
Domestic violence is a broad term that refers to violent acts between two people who share an intimate or family relationship. In order to be categorized as a crime that’s a type of domestic violence, the victim must be your:
- Current or former spouse
- Co-parent
- Child
- Roommate or household member
- Fiance
- Dating partner
- Cohabitating partner, or
- Parent.
Simply put, domestic violence involves a violent crime committed against a family member or household member.
Crimes of Domestic Violence in Indiana
At Suhre & Associates DUI and Criminal Defense Lawyers, our Indiana domestic violence lawyers prepared to help you defend yourself against any and all allegations of domestic abuse. Several different criminal offenses can be classified as a crime of domestic violence, including:
- Domestic battery resulting in bodily injury
- Neglect
- Child abuse
- Stalking
- Invasion of privacy
- Criminal confinement
- Kidnapping
- Interfering with the reporting of a crime
- Strangulation, and
- Homicide.
This is not an exhaustive list of domestic violence offenses in Indiana. If you’ve been arrested for an act of domestic violence, it’s important to seek legal assistance immediately. Do not hesitate to contact our experienced legal team for immediate assistance today.
What Are the Penalties for a Domestic Violence Conviction?
Again, domestic violence is an umbrella term that refers to a specific subset of crimes involving parties who share a special relationship. The penalties for crimes of domestic violence will ultimately depend on the specific circumstances of your case and the charges you face. However, any domestic violence conviction can carry harsh criminal and collateral consequences.
What are the Criminal Consequences?
Crimes of domestic violence can be charged as misdemeanors or felonies. The charge will ultimately depend on the (a) the specific offense and (b) any aggravating or mitigating factors. Aggravating factors are details that warrant more serious criminal charges or penalties, such as:
- The extent of any injuries suffered by the victim
- The age of the victim
- Criminal record reflecting previous convictions for violent offenses of crimes of domestic violence, or
- The use of a gun or other dangerous weapons.
Mitigating factors are details that might warrant more lenient charges or penalties. For example, the fact that this is your first offense or that you suffer from a mental disability might cause the state to pursue misdemeanor, rather than felony, domestic violence charges.
A misdemeanor domestic violence conviction is punishable by up to 12 months in a Marion County jail, up to $5,000 in fines, and/or probation.
A felony domestic violence conviction is punishable by more than one year in an Indiana state prison, up to $10,000 in fines, and/or probation.
Any domestic violence conviction can also result in a Protective Order, in which you can be ordered to stay away from your alleged victim, your home, and even your children. A Protective Order – also known as an Order of Protection or restraining order – can also prohibit you from making any contact with your family.
Collateral Consequences of a Conviction
A domestic violence conviction will also trigger non-criminal penalties known as collateral consequences. Collateral consequences are social and civil penalties that exist simply because you’ve been convicted of a crime and have a criminal record.
Possible collateral consequences of a domestic violence conviction in Indiana include:
- Loss of professional licenses (e.g., medical, nursing, legal, real estate)
- Inability to work in certain industries (e.g., education, government)
- Job loss or difficulty finding a job
- Difficulty securing housing, especially if you are subject to a restraining order
- Loss of gun ownership rights
- Possible deportation for non-citizens, and
- Loss of child custody and/or visitation privileges.
These penalties can affect you long after you’ve completed your criminal sentence.
Asserting a Strong Defense Against Charges
Just because you’ve been accused of a crime of domestic violence doesn’t mean you’ll be convicted. The state has the burden of proving that you are guilty of a specific offense beyond a reasonable doubt. That can be difficult, especially in cases where there’s little-to-no physical evidence to support allegations of abuse.
At Suhre & Associates DUI and Criminal Defense Lawyers, we’ll stand up for you and work tirelessly to make the prosecution’s job even more difficult. We’ll carefully investigate your case and raise any defense that might make it more difficult for the state to build a solid case against you.
Possible defenses to allegations of domestic violence might include:
- No special relationship between you and the alleged victim
- Lack of intent
- Mistaken identity
- False accusations
- No injury to the victim, or
- Self-defense or the defense of others.
We’ll also analyze how the Indianapolis police handled your arrest and any searches of your person, home, or property. If we suspect that your rights have been violated in any way, we’ll raise that issue with the court and seek to have evidence excluded from your case. Without evidence, prosecutors may be forced to consider a plea or drop the charges against you.
Call Our Indianapolis Domestic Violence Lawyers For Help Today
It’s easy to get overwhelmed and stressed out when you’re facing criminal charges in Indianapolis. However, it’s important to remember that you have the right to defend yourself. A strong defense can be the difference between a conviction and walking away from the charges as a free man or woman. That’s why you should contact the experienced Indianapolis criminal defense attorneys at Suhre & Associates DUI and Criminal Defense Lawyers for help if you’ve been accused of domestic violence.
We offer a free consultation, so give our Indianapolis, Indiana law office a call to schedule yours today. We’ll review your case, explain your rights, and answer any questions that you may have.