Can a Judge Order You to Go to Counseling for Domestic Violence in Illinois?

The state of Illinois can charge you with a domestic violence offense if you commit any act of battery against a family or household member. That means even if you’re not married, you could be convicted and sentenced for a crime that could result in jail time.

Family and Household Members Under Illinois Domestic Violence Laws

Under Illinois law, domestic battery or aggravated domestic battery against any household member or family member is considered domestic violence.

But who, exactly, is a family or household member?

The law considers several people—even some you may not expect—to be family or household members for purposes of domestic violence crimes, including:

  • Spouses
  • Ex-spouses
  • Fiancés
  • Ex-fiancés
  • Boyfriends and girlfriends
  • Roommates
  • Stepparents and stepchildren
  • People who share a child
  • People who are alleged to share a child
  • People with whom you share a home

What the State of Illinois Classifies as Domestic Violence

The term “domestic violence” actually refers broadly to domestic battery and aggravated domestic battery. Under Illinois law, those two types of battery are similar to battery against a stranger or someone with whom you don’t share one of the connections listed above. However, the difference between standard domestic battery and aggravated domestic battery lies in the extent of the injuries caused. One other difference is that if strangulation is involved, the battery becomes an aggravated domestic battery.

What to Do if You’re Accused of Domestic Battery or Aggravated Domestic Battery

If someone accuses you of domestic battery or aggravated domestic battery, or if someone gets an order of protection against you, it may be a good idea to get in touch with a domestic violence defense lawyer in Chicago as soon as possible.

Your lawyer can talk to you about your rights and ensure that those rights are protected under the law—and he’ll answer all your questions about your case, explain the possible outcomes, and give you case-specific legal advice.

If you’ve been accused of any of these domestic violence crimes, call us at 847-920-4540 immediately for a free case evaluation. We’ll go through every aspect of your case and develop a highly individualized strategy to ensure that you get the best possible outcome.