Fairfax Domestic Violence Lawyer

Domestic violence is one of the most common criminal offenses. It can and does impact people across racial, religious, and socioeconomic lines. Although women are the most reported victims of domestic violence, making up approximately 33 percent of all domestic violence victims, domestic violence also crosses gender lines. Approximately 25 percent of men in the United States are also victims of domestic violence. If someone is accused of domestic violence, they will need to attain a knowledgeable criminal attorney.

Since toxic relationships generally involve mutually abusive partners, often, the lines between victim and abuser is indistinct. Under these circumstances, it is essential that an individual who is accused of domestic violence, contact a trained Fairfax domestic violence lawyer to help them resolve the criminal matter. En Español.

Domestic Violence Defined

In Virginia, domestic violence, or family violence, is a separate crime from assault and battery. It is abuse, by the accused, against someone that they are in an intimate or familial relationship with. It can also include former intimate partners or spouses and people that are or have lived with the accused within the past year.

As such, a person can be accused of domestic violence when the accuser is a roommate, former roommate, and/or the other parent of the accused’s child.

Family violence is not limited to physical abuse, although it does include physical abuse. Physical abuse is any intentional act that causes injury or trauma to the other person. Sexual assault, which is forcing another person to engage in sexual acts against their will, is another form of domestic violence.

Arrest Process

When an individual is accused of domestic violence, it is a different process from other forms of assault cases, beginning at the arrest. A Fairfax domestic violence lawyer can provide thorough explanation and support throughout this process.

Virginia is a mandatory arrest jurisdiction. Accordingly, when an accuser contacts the police to report a domestic violence incident, the responding police officers are required to make an arrest as long as there is some evidence of assault.

There is not a uniform standard establishing what is necessary to establish evidence of assault, so one Fairfax police officer may determine that broken glass coupled with a statement that the accused threw it at the accuser is sufficient while another police officer may find that insufficient. An accuser’s bruising is likely sufficient to establish evidence of assault in most cases.

In particularly volatile situations, one party may have called the police solely to get the other person to leave.

Since the police do not act as mediators in domestic disturbances, doing so will not result in an officer directing one party or the other to leave the home. It will generally result in one of the involved parties being arrested and incarcerated.

Once an arrest is made, the prosecutor makes the determination as to whether or not they will press charges. Once someone is arrested, it is critical that you speak with a Fairfax domestic violence lawyer before they give any statements to the police. The accuser does not dictate whether or not the Commonwealth’s attorney will move forward with the charges.

While the accuser cannot be forced to testify against the accused, they may be compelled to do so to avoid being charged with a criminal offense or contempt.

Speak with an Attorney

If you have been accused of domestic violence, do not hesitate to contact a Fairfax domestic violence lawyer who can review your case and ensure that all your rights are protected.