Domestic battery is a serious crime that comes with a mandatory criminal record. This criminal record is on top of the penalties that domestic battery incurs, all of which will greatly impair your ability to live the life you have built.
Reviewing what aggravating factors mean in terms of increasing the severity of domestic battery, and consulting with a Chicago criminal defense lawyer, can help you achieve the legal outcome you are seeking.
What Is Domestic Battery?
The state of the definition of domestic battery in Illinois defines domestic battery as an instance in which someone knowingly, and without any legal justification, does one of two things:
- Causes bodily harm to any household or family member.
- Makes physical contact of a humiliating or insulting nature with any household or family member.
Just as an example, if someone pushes their wife, this would be considered domestic battery. And, this act of domestic battery can lead to the following penalties:
- A period of up to one year in jail.
- A fine of no more than $2,500.
- Being forced to pay damages to the accuser.
- A permanent criminal record.
Every single one of these penalties will change your life for the worse. These penalties arise from a domestic battery conviction that does not involve any aggravating factors.
What Are Aggravating Factors?
Aggravating factors are circumstances that surround an alleged criminal act, elevating the seriousness of the charges and potential legal outcomes.
Some of the most notable aggravating factors for domestic battery are as follows:
- Past convictions for domestic battery.
- If strangulation occurred.
- If the act caused great bodily harm.
- If the act caused disfiguration.
- The presence of a weapon.
Every single one of these aggravating factors can raise the severity of domestic battery.
All of these aggravating factors raise the severity of domestic battery. And, in doing so, they greatly raise the penalties for that crime.
How Do Aggravating Factors Increase The Severity Of Domestic Battery?
A standard act of domestic battery can lead to jail time. This period can be up to one year, depending on how your case proceeds.
If aggravating factors are present, domestic battery can be raised to a felony. And, if domestic battery turns into a felony, you may be forced to spend one to three years in prison, while paying a fine of up to $25,000.
Given just how seriously the state of Illinois takes domestic battery, you must work with an attorney who has the ability to help you. Failing to do so can put you in a perilous and uncertain situation. It is more likely that the results you desire will be harder to obtain.
The above is especially true if aggravating factors are present. Whoever is prosecuting your case will want to obtain a domestic battery conviction, and this conviction will lead to some very unpleasant outcomes for you.
Our team has helped thousands of people obtain the domestic battery verdict they need. You can start working with us today so that we can help you obtain the verdict you need.
Get Qualified Legal Help Today
You have a future that deserves to be defended. We at Glasgow & Olsson will fight for the future you deserve.
Our team has helped thousands of people who have been charged with crimes in Illinois. When we take cases, we do so to win. This means we take cases to trial. We don’t arrange plea bargains unless it is in the best interest of our clients. As proactive lawyers, we fight aggressively and support our clients throughout their entire case up to and including appeals. Protecting your life and freedom is always the goal, and with our decades of experience practicing law, we know how to get results. This is why we are regularly invited to appear as a legal contributor on popular radio and news outlets, including ABC, CNN, NBC, CBS, and Fox NEWS.
When you need an attorney, experience matters.
If you’re facing a domestic battery matter in Illinois, let the team at Glasgow & Olsson take care of it.
Our firm was built on trust. And we stand by that trust in every courtroom, for every client, in every moment.
Speak with a Chicago criminal defense attorney today to learn how we can get you the results you deserve.