When you have domestic battery charges against you, it can be a tricky situation. Since domestic battery cases can affect your life in dramatic ways and impact your family, you want to make sure you have the best defense to protect you in your case and help you get a speedy trial. Here are 3 signs you need a defense attorney when you are facing domestic battery charges.

It's not your first charge, or the charges are harsh

A first-time domestic battery charge is typically listed as a misdemeanor unless you have caused traumatic injury to your victim. Traumatic injury includes anything that results in the victim being treated or hospitalized to having stitches or a broken bone. Traumatic injury with a weapon can also up your charges to a felony, which can result in extensive jail time, a long no-contact order where you cannot come near the victim, or even extensive protection orders so you cannot see your children. If you are facing felony or harsh domestic battery charges, you need a defense attorney to work with you to help reduce your sentencing and help you mend ties with your family.

You are ready to lift your no-contact order

All domestic battery charges result in a minimum 1 year no-contact order to protect the victim involved in the case. This is something that cannot be lifted easily, even if you and your victim both want it removed. In order to have a no-contact order lifted or modified by the judge, you will need a defense attorney to help prove your case that you are no longer a threat to the victim and show evidence of your completion of anger management courses, drug treatment programs, and complete compliance with the no-contact order thus far. Your victim will need to be in agreement that they also want the no contact order lifted. Without an attorney, you may not be able to present your case to the district attorney and judge in a favorable way.

Your charges prevent you from working

In some cases, a judge will issue stipulations of your release at your arraignment prior to sentencing. These stipulations can mean checking in with a probation officer for urinary analysis to check for drugs or alcohol, or even the order to wear an ankle monitor if you pose a flight risk. Some of these stipulations can prevent you from working if you cannot leave your district or are unable to leave work to attend to random urinalysis checks. Your defense attorney can go before the judge on your behalf and argue that your release terms are unjust and keep you from being able to provide for your family so you can lead a more normal life until your domestic battery case has been completed.

Being charged with domestic battery can heavily disrupt your life. A defense attorney may be needed in your case to help you understand your charges, reduce them to lesser degrees, and even help you get no-contact orders lifted so you can get back to a normal life more quickly.

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