What Happens to First-Time Domestic Violence Offenders?

What happens to first-time domestic violence offenders? If you’re like many people, you’ve been charged with domestic battery or aggravated domestic battery for the first time – and what we can tell you right now is that you have the right to talk to an attorney and get legal guidance on your case.

So what could happen to you?

Here’s what you need to know.

What Happens to First-Time Domestic Violence Offenders?

If you’re a first-time domestic violence offender, it may have an impact on your case. (If you have one or more domestic battery convictions in your past, those will certainly affect the outcome of your case.)

Related: What happens when you get a domestic violence charge?

Domestic battery is a misdemeanor if it’s your first offense, and aggravated domestic battery is a felony. However, domestic battery can become a felony if it’s your second or subsequent offense.

Your attorney will fight hard on your behalf, but there’s never any way to predict how a judge will rule. If the court finds you guilty of domestic battery, even if it’s your first offense, you could end up spending up to a year in jail and paying fines of up to $2,500. The judge in your case will decide what type of punishment you get – that’s your sentence.

Sometimes lawyers are able to negotiate deals with prosecutors, though. That means they can talk to the prosecution – the attorney who’s responsible for proving that you’re guilty – and find out whether the state can drop its case against you. That can happen when the prosecutor doesn’t feel he or she has enough evidence to get the court to convict you, or when you’re willing to plead guilty to a lesser charge. Every case is different, though, and sometimes prosecutors won’t budge because they know they have enough evidence for the court to convict you of domestic battery.

Related: Why do domestic violence cases get dismissed?

Do You Need to Talk to a Lawyer Because You’re a First-Time Domestic Violence Offender?

You have the right to get legal counsel, and we’re here to help. Call us at 847-920-4540 whether you’re a first-time domestic violence offender or you’ve been charged with or convicted of domestic battery in the past. We’ll be happy to review your case and give you the legal guidance you need.