Review: Four Reasons to Deal With Las Vegas Domestic Violence Charges
Domestic violence constitutes the willful and unlawful act of violence upon a current or former partner, a minor child of either the perpetrator or the victim, or a blood relation. It constitutes everything from coercion and harassment to severe physical harm.
Some people may dismiss the consequences of a domestic violence case, considering it only as a problem within a family. However, the legal implications of a conviction for this charge are very real and very severe, with long-term effects even after the sentence has been served. One convicted for domestic violence may be seen as untrustworthy and violent, making it difficult to reconnect to people.
Let’s review a few reasons why you need to immediately address a Las Vegas domestic violence charge.
Mandatory Arrests
Domestic violence offenses are some of a few types of crimes where a suspect must be arrested prior to trial. That means that you will spend time in jail prior to your hearing, regardless of the severity of your alleged crime. You can still post bail, of course, but the point of the matter is that you will be arrested. Without the bail option, you will be incarcerated until the hearings begin.
Limited Options for Dismissals
Compared to other cases, domestic violence offenses in Nevada offer few options for dismissal early on. The courts often reject guilty, insanity, and no-contest pleas and proceed with the hearing. Consequently, defendants get only a small chance to negotiate a plea bargain. In many cases, it only works if the prosecution lacks the evidence to prove the defendant’s guilt beyond reasonable doubt.
Penalties
This bears repeating: domestic violence charges have severe penalties for guilty convictions. This applies even for minor offenses and misdemeanors. One can expect significant jail time, fees, and certain revoked rights. If the convicted is an immigrant, they face the possibility of deportation. For some people, however, the worst penalty is a stay-away order, preventing them from meeting certain blood relations that are connected to the case.
Protective Orders
Protective orders are simply legal orders issued by courts to safeguard a vulnerable victim against further acts of aggression or violence. It often restricts certain individuals from meeting the victim in the future for a certain period of time. In the worst case, the order can be permanent, requiring special circumstances to be lifted. Additionally, the protective order can be extended to other members of the victim’s (by extension, the convicted person’s) family.
Never underestimate a domestic violence charge filed against you. Get in touch with a veteran criminal defense lawyer immediately and avoid the worst consequences of this offense.
