Being convicted of a domestic violence charge can have long lasting negative effects on your ability to obtain employment, own a firearm, or even see your family and children. In Michigan, the severity of a domestic violence conviction can depend on many factors. This means that you may face severe penalties even if you believe you did nothing wrong. If you have been charged with any domestic violence crime, you must meet with the right criminal defense attorney as soon as possible to ensure your rights are protected.
Domestic violence laws in Michigan are highly nuanced. For instance, in Michigan, only specific individuals can be classified as victims of domestic violence. As an example, a Michigan prosecutor cannot charge domestic violence for a dispute between cousins, grandparents/grandchildren, or even siblings if they have never lived in the same house. Nonetheless, prosecutors have tried to charge domestic violence in the past when the law does not allow for them to do so. If you hire the wrong attorney, you could end up putting your liberty in the hands of someone who does not know the nuances of the law and the prosecution could get away with more than they should.
Domestic violence cases can also be good cases to take to trial. Because domestic violence charges frequently arise because of disagreements between family members, key witnesses often do not want to appear for trial. If a witness does not appear for trial, the prosecution will often try to read a witness’ prior statements before the jury. They can only do this in certain circumstances, and you need to hire a defense attorney who knows when to stop the prosecution from doing something they cannot do. When key witnesses do appear for trial, the prosecution has the burden of proving to the jury each and every element of the crimes charged. In domestic violence cases, this can be especially difficult because the victim may have acted violently too, thereby making the jury question who is truly at fault.
Not being able to see one’s family again may be the only punishment more frightening than going to jail or prison. If you or someone you know has been charged with domestic violence, contact KBW Criminal law today to begin fighting for your rights and liberty so you can go home to your family as soon as possible.