Common Legal Defenses Used in Domestic Abuse Cases

A conviction for a domestic violence or abuse crime is serious business, and it can lead to devastating consequences – both legal and personal – for the accused individual. If you are ultimately convicted on a domestic violence offense by a court or jury, a sentencing judge could impose jail time, monetary fines, probation, and other serious consequences. In addition, A judge may prohibit you from contacting loved ones, including your children.

When it comes to proving a domestic abuse criminal charge, the prosecutor who is handling your case has the legal burden. The prosecutor must therefore satisfy all of the necessary legal elements, or else your case could wind up getting dismissed. As a criminal defendant, you do not have to prove anything. However, your attorney might be able to advance several legal defenses on your behalf to help convince a judge or jury to decide the case in your favor.

If you are facing criminal domestic violence charges, it is essential that you have a knowledgeable criminal defense attorney representing you throughout your case. The knowledgeable criminal defense attorneys at Cohen Law Offices welcome the opportunity to advocate for you and work for the best possible legal result in your case.

For more information about how we could assist with defending you, please call Cohen Law Offices today at (715) 514-5051 or contact us online.

You Didn’t Commit the Domestic Abuse Crime

One variation of a common legal defense to a domestic abuse charge is that you simply did not commit the alleged wrongful act. In order to advance this defense, your attorney will try to gather evidence that you were somewhere else or that an eyewitness observed another person commit the alleged violent act of abuse.

The Alleged Victim Was Lying

Another common defense to a domestic violence charge is that the alleged victim was untruthful regarding the facts. In order to bolster this legal defense, your attorney will likely look for evidence that the alleged victim had a motive to lie. For example, you might have been involved in a messy divorce proceeding, and the alleged victim – who is your ex-spouse – may be trying to seek retribution against you by filing the domestic abuse charge. In addition, your attorney may seek circumstantial evidence that call the veracity of the other party’s statements into question.

You were Acting in Self-Defense

Another common defense to a criminal domestic violence charge is that you were attempting to defend yourself. For example, the alleged victim may have been the initial aggressor, and you were using a proportionate amount of force to prevent death or serious bodily harm to yourself or someone else. Self-defense is a complete defense, and if you can demonstrate to a judge or jury that you were defending yourself, your charge could wind up getting dismissed.

Contact an Experienced Criminal Defense Attorney about Your Legal Matter Today

When it comes to domestic abuse criminal charges, the potential consequences are too great to try and represent yourself in a legal claim. It is essential that you have knowledgeable and skilled legal representation in your corner at every stage of your case, from beginning to end. At Cohen Law Offices, our legal team will do everything possible to advance your interests and get you the best result possible.

To schedule a free case evaluation and legal consultation with an experienced criminal defense lawyer, please call Cohen Law Offices today at (715) 514-5051 or contact us online.