A conviction for domestic violence in Illinois can lead to two types of penalties: civil penalties and criminal penalties. Your life will change for the worse if you are convicted of domestic violence.
Just beyond those two types of penalties, there is another, related set of penalties you may incur: damage to your reputation caused by the significance of a domestic violence conviction.
Going over the significance of a domestic violence conviction and its effect on your life as you know it, while speaking with a Chicago domestic violence defense attorney, will make it much easier for you to obtain the verdict you are seeking.
What Happens If You Are Convicted Of Domestic Violence?
If you are convicted of domestic violence, you could be subject to the following penalties:
- A period of no more than one year in jail, as well as a fine of no more than $2,500 – you could face more time in jail or a greater fine, depending on the facts of your case.
- Being forced to pay your accuser’s medical bills and compensate them for the wages they lost while not at work, among other civil penalties.
- You could lose your job, be ostracized from your friends/family, and have a harder time doing the things you normally do – among other, related penalties – due to your domestic violence conviction.
Every single one of the above will make your life a lot harder than it needs to be.
What Should You Do If You Have Been Charged With Domestic Violence?
The first thing you must do, in the event that you have been charged with domestic violence, is contact an attorney who can help you.
Right after you contact this attorney, tell them everything about your case. This means telling them about the incident that led to the charge, the person accusing you, and what actually happened, along with everything else.
Your attorney will use all of this information to help you obtain the verdict you are owed. The only way they can do this is if you tell them everything they need to know.
If you have any evidence that can help you – testimony from a witness, for example – you must tell your attorney about this evidence. Doing so will make it easier for them to use this evidence so that they can help you.
What Are The Best Defenses For A Domestic Violence Charge?
Out of all the defenses that can be employed, if you have been charged with domestic violence, the following tend to be some of the most useful:
- The civil rights you are entitled to were violated when you were arrested/questioned.
- You were not present when the alleged act of domestic violence occurred.
- Your accuser is being dishonest/lying.
- The domestic violence you have been accused of occurred, but it was an accident.
- You did commit the act you are accused of, but did so as a means of self-defense.
- The evidence against you does not support the accusations against you beyond a reasonable doubt.
Every single one of the defenses outlined above is useful. Your attorney will only employ the defense that is right for your case, though, meaning that none of the defenses clarified above may be useful for your case.
Get Qualified Legal Help Today
If you need representation for a domestic battery charge, Glasgow & Olsson is uniquely qualified to help you.
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. Speak with a Chicago defense attorney today to learn how our experience can get you the results you deserve.