CCD Law Crary & Domanico, P.S., of Spokane, defends clients accused of domestic violence. We make sure judges and juries get all of the facts before they make their decisions. We back domestic violence suspects with strong cases to get charges dismissed and sentences reduced. Contact our domestic violence lawyers for a case review with a real, local lawyer to determine your best option.
How Can a Domestic Violence Lawyer Help Me If I’m Accused of Domestic Violence?
Those guilty of domestic violence must be prosecuted and punished. The victims of real cases of domestic violence must get justice and support and be protected by Washington’s legal system.
Unfortunately, innocent people are sometimes accused of domestic violence. Guilt can be presumed without proper evidence and suspects can face unfair treatment during arrests, during incarceration, and in a courtroom. Witnesses and even alleged victims can get important details wrong. Defendants can also receive sentences that go above and beyond what is appropriate under state law. These injustices occur far more often to people without skilled and experienced legal representation.
Your Spokane Domestic Violence Lawyer would fully investigate what happened. Your lawyer would examine the way law enforcement officers handled the incident and the investigation that followed. With a strong handle on the legal process in domestic violence cases, your lawyer would mandate that you receive the same protections that our court system guarantees everyone.
Who Can Be Charged with Domestic Violence in Washington State?
According to Washington law, domestic violence is a crime committed by a family member or household member against another member of the family or household member. It can also involve a crime committed by one intimate partner against another partner.
Family or household members can mean adults related by blood or marriage. Adults living together or who have lived together in the past. People with a biological or guardian parent-child relationship including a step-child, or grandchild.
Intimate partners is legally defined as spouses or domestic partners. It would sometimes include people who were spouses or partners in the past. Persons who have a child in common. Persons 16 years old or older who are in or have had a dating relationship and who live together or have lived together.
Washington takes domestic violence crimes very seriously. Lawmakers require all cases that involve this crime to carry a (DV) designation to alert anyone working on the case to its seriousness and sensitive nature.
These protections are important, but this focus can also lead to the rights of suspects being ignored and shortcuts in investigations. Those accused may be wrongly convicted or be punished more severely than what their violations warrant. A skilled Spokane domestic violence attorney takes action to ensure that all evidence is uncovered and examined. A CCD Law attorney sees that a jury gets the entire story and that alleged victims are represented fairly and accurately.
What Crimes Are Considered Domestic Violence in Washington State?
The domestic violence laws in the Revised Code of Washington (RCW) feature a long list of crimes that are considered domestic violence.
RCW 10.99.020 lists these and other violations:
- Domestic Violence Assault including assault in the first-degree, second-degree, third-degree, and fourth-degree
- Drive-By Shooting
- Coercion
- Burglary
- Criminal Trespass
- Rape
- Stalking
- Kidnapping
- Unlawful Imprisonment
- Violation of the provisions of a restraining order, no-contact order, or protection order
- Malicious Mischief
These and other domestic violence crimes constitute extremely serious charges. If you are charged with any of these crimes, you can feel completely alone, especially if you haven’t been allowed to tell your side of the story.
Our attorneys can be your voice in the courtroom and fight to help you restore your life. A domestic violence conviction can rob you of your freedom, your relationship with family members, and leave you financially ruined. At CCD Law we understand what’s at stake and move to secure the best possible outcome for our clients.
Support for People Accused of Protection Order Violations
What Are Some of the Defenses I Can Use to Fight Domestic Violence Charges?
Many factors should always be carefully considered anytime someone is brought up on serious charges like domestic violence.
Key pieces of evidence and strong legal defenses can change how a jury views the incident and may limit the ways the prosecution can attack your character and your testimony.
Your Spokane domestic violence lawyer would talk over your case with you, examine the police report, and consider these and other defense options:
- Self-defense is a strong defense if you had a reasonable belief of an immediate threat of bodily harm.
- You were acting in the defense of others.
- You didn’t intend to harm the victim. It was an accident.
- A lack of independent evidence. If there’s no proof of physical injuries and no witnesses other than you and the alleged victim, there may not be enough evidence to convict.
- The allegations were false. Alleged victims and witnesses can incorrectly recall what happened. They can also lie out of spite. They may lie for financial reasons or need the leverage for a child custody case. It’s up to your attorney to uncover evidence through investigation and witness examination to bring the truth to light.
Punishment for Domestic Violence Convictions in Washington
Domestic violence charges can disrupt a suspect’s life and destroy family relationships. The stakes are incredibly high even before a verdict is reached.
In Washington a Class A Felony is a potential outcome in a first-degree assault conviction. This includes the intentional use of a deadly weapon or poison to cause severe bodily harm. Violators can receive a $50,000 fine and/or life in prison.
With less serious offenses, such as second and third-degree assault, these and other penalties are possible:
- Shorter jail sentences
- Smaller fines
- Court costs
- Probation
- Year-long domestic violence treatment program at the convicted person’s expense
- Child custody limitations
- Loss of the right to possess firearms
- Immigration issues for non-citizens
- Loss of ability to communicate with the alleged victim through a “No-Contact Order”
A no-contact order would limit the contact a defendant could have with the alleged victim while the trial was ongoing. This could go on for months or years. A no-contact order is often enforced even if the alleged victim desires communication.
The effectiveness of your legal defense can make an enormous difference in the outcome of your case. CCD Law has been defending clients in Eastern Washington since 1981. We help clients seek justice and rebuild their lives after facing serious and life-altering charges in cases like these. We seek the restoration of people’s lives and resolutions for families if possible.
Contact a Spokane Domestic Violence Lawyer Today
A charge of domestic violence can feel like an end to the life you once knew, and perhaps the end of your freedom. But with the right legal representation, you do have hope you can restore your life and your relationships. With help from CCD Law, you can prove your innocence and seek a dismissal of charges. With skilled representation, even if you are convicted, you can trust you have the best chance to secure the fairest and lightest sentence possible. It’s an opportunity to emerge from this difficult period and get back to the life you once knew.
Contact us as soon as possible to schedule a confidential case consultation with a real Spokane attorney. The fact that these allegations were made doesn’t make you guilty. We can help you identify the fastest route to clearing your name and resolving your domestic violence charges.
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