Being involved in family and domestic violence can be overwhelming and have significant consequences for the family and the parties involved. In domestic violence situations, an arrest may be made or a protective order may be filed. The party that is accused of domestic violence may have to leave the family home and be ordered to stay away from the family home. A temporary protective order is typically granted and the court may extend it for six months to a year.
Depending on the circumstances, it may be necessary to establish a pattern of abuse or that the abuse did not occur. Individuals accused of domestic violence may face felony charges while they may also need to demonstrate that they have been falsely charged due to a variety of reasons. Because each interaction a family has with the criminal justice system is different, the circumstances of domestic abuse may vary and require different criminal justice resources. Once a protective order is in place, violating it can lead to further consequences.
Domestic violence can place significant stress on family and can have a devastating impact on the lives of the parties involved. The criminal justice process provides resources to help assist individuals involved in domestic violence situations, including those who have suffered abuse as well as those who have been accused of perpetrating abuse on others. There is a wide range of resources available to family members and parties involved in domestic violence situations and criminal justice resources are one type of resource.
It is important for families struggling with domestic violence situations to be familiar with the criminal defense and protection options available to them. The period of time following a domestic violence incident can be a challenging one which is why the legal process is available to help.
