Do All Domestic Violence Cases Go to Trial?

If you’ve been accused of domestic battery, you want to know: Do all domestic violence cases go to trial? What kinds of penalties will you face if you admit guilt or if the court finds you guilty? Will you go to jail or prison?

Here’s what you need to know.

Do All Domestic Violence Cases Go to Trial?

Not all domestic violence cases go to trial. In fact, a lot of cases don’t go to trial at all. Here’s why:

• Sometimes prosecutors drop a case. That means the attorney fighting to prove that you’re guilty lets the case go. That can happen if the prosecutor doesn’t have enough evidence to get a conviction in court.
• Some people plead guilty right off the bat. If you plead guilty, you won’t have a trial. Instead, you’ll fast-forward to sentencing, where the judge will let you know what type of punishment you’ll face.
• Sometimes attorneys negotiate deals with prosecutors. For example, your attorney might get the prosecutor to agree to let you plead guilty to a lesser charge in exchange for a lighter sentence. That’s still pleading guilty, so you won’t go to trial.

However, some domestic violence cases do go to trial. In those cases, most people feel more comfortable going to court with an attorney who’s willing to fight for them. You always have the right to an attorney – no matter what the state accuses you of doing – and if you can’t afford to hire one, the state will give you a public defender. A public defender is an attorney who represents you and multiple other people who cannot afford to hire an attorney, but sometimes they have too many cases and don’t have time to build you a rock-solid defense. For that reason, many people choose to hire an attorney who can take on their case and fight hard for their rights in court.

Do You Need to Talk to a Lawyer About Whether Your Domestic Violence Case Will Go to Trial?

If you need to talk to an attorney because you’ve been accused of domestic violence, we’re here for you. Call us at 847-920-4540 or fill out the form below so we can get back to you. We’ll be happy to review your case and give you the legal advice you need.