Consequences of Domestic Violence Accusations

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Consequences of Domestic Violence Accusations

The consequences of a domestic violence charge are serious. You’re facing, according to Texas Penal Code Sec. 22. 01., the following:

Misdemeanor: You may be charged with a class C or A misdemeanor, which carries a $500 fine or one year in jail and a $4,000 fine, respectively.
Felony: A felony in the third-, second- or first-degree are all possible and come with 2 – 99 years in prison and fines of up to $10,000.

First-degree felonies are the most serious and often involve deadly weapons. During our consultation, we’ll discuss the potential charges you face and what jail time and fines may exist.

But you’re innocent until proven guilty. Before dealing with any charges, there will be consequences that you face that will start to impact your life even if you’re not guilty.

The Impact of Domestic Violence Accusations

Domestic violence will have an immediate impact on your life once people begin learning more about the allegations, and even if they don’t, the allegations will take a toll on you mentally.

While there are many consequences of a domestic violence charge, we’ll try breaking the most impactful down into three main categories:

Legal Impacts

Accusations of domestic violence are serious, and the police will be dispatched to the home. You may be tempted to flee at this time or stop the person from calling the police, but all of these actions are ill-advised.

If you flee, it will look worse for you and increase the risk of being arrested.

The police may or may not arrest you. If the person sustained serious injuries, you may be taken into custody, and resisting will only make matters worse. Even if you’re 100% innocent, resisting arrest will not be in your best interests.

In all cases, you want to do two main things at this time:

Relax and remain calm. This is easier said than done, but if you are irate, it will reflect poorly on you. Displaying strong emotions and yelling will make it look like you cannot control yourself or your emotions.
Request an attorney. Immediately request an attorney if you’re detained. Do not answer any questions without an attorney present.

On top of the legal impact of domestic violence charges, you’ll also face mental consequences.

Mental Impacts

Misdemeanor or felony charges are a major concern and will impact you for the rest of your life. It’s common for the accusations against you to cause:

Anxiety that you may be going to jail
Fear of being around others
Feelings of isolation

If you’re being wrongfully accused of violence, it can cause you to avoid friendships and relationships. Your fears are common because, when someone you trust makes accusations of this nature, it negatively affects your mental health.

Restless nights and fear of what may happen next are common, and there will also be professional and personal impacts on your life.

Professional and Personal Impacts

If someone accuses you of domestic violence, the impact can be far-reaching. The mental and legal impacts are obvious, but they can also affect your career and your personal relationships.

Domestic violence accusations can tarnish your reputation, making it more difficult to build trust with clients if you offer professional services. Even in the workplace, co-workers and colleagues may change their opinion of you or treat you differently. Doors to new career opportunities may inadvertently be closed to you simply because your reputation is now damaged.

If friends and family find out about the accusations, they may also change their opinion of you and treat you differently. Accusations of this caliber can put a serious strain on personal relationships. You may lose friends or family members as a result.

What Should You Do if You Are Accused of Domestic Violence?

The consequences of a domestic violence charge can be life-changing. The steps you take following the accusations are important.

Contact an experienced criminal defense attorney as soon as possible, even if you have not officially been charged with anything. An attorney can advise you on the best course of action to take and, most importantly, what not to do.
Avoid contact with the accuser. Remember – everything you say and do can be used against you. Resist the temptation to set the record straight or contact your accuser.
Gather evidence. Time is of the essence, so gather any evidence you can to support your innocence: witness testimony, GPS data, surveillance camera footage, or any other evidence that will support your case.

Your attorney will also work to gather evidence and start building your defense if you are officially charged with domestic violence.

The sooner you start working with an attorney, the better.

Attorney Nathaniel Pitoniak has 15+ years of experience practicing criminal law and has represented many Houston residents in domestic violence cases.