Milford Domestic Violence Trials

While no criminal charge is necessarily easy to answer for in criminal court, charges classified as “family violence” tend to be especially complex for more than one reason. If you have found yourself facing an allegation like this, it may be more important than ever for you to have seasoned legal representation helping you through your legal proceedings to come—not to mention, important for you to retain that representation as quickly as possible after being arrested.

Milford domestic violence trials are not impossible to get good results from as a defendant, especially with a skilled domestic violence defense lawyer on your side. That said, it can be beneficial to know a little bit in advance about how these proceedings work even before speaking with legal counsel, so here is a brief overview of what you should expect after being charged with a family violence offense in the Nutmeg State.

Are Domestic Violence Trials Different From Other Criminal Trials?

In terms of the broad rules and procedures that apply to them, criminal trials based on allegations of family violence work the same as trials based on any other kind of alleged criminal offense. However, it’s important to note that domestic violence trials in Milford and throughout Connecticut generally move at a substantially faster pace than most other types of trials, primarily because the court system wants to protect alleged targets of domestic violence from suffering further harm.

Rather than being given a few days or weeks to contact legal counsel and prepare a preliminary defense strategy, people arrested for and charged with family violence are almost always ordered to appear in court for arraignment on the very next business day, which can sometimes be just a few hours after arrest. This makes it all the more essential to contact a dependable defense attorney quickly after being accused of this offense.

Understanding Court Procedures for Domestic Violence Offenses

Prior to appearing in court for arraignment after a domestic violence arrest, you will need to show up to court early to speak with a Family Relations Officer employed by the court. As part of arraignment proceedings, the judge may also decide—potentially based on statements you gave to the Family Relations Officer—to issue a protective order against you, which can limit where you can go and who you can speak or have any interaction with for the duration of your trial.

During the trial itself, you will have an opportunity to present an opening statement and evidence in your defense, as well as to cross-examine evidence presented by the prosecution. To reiterate, though, each of these stages in the Milford domestic violence trial process will proceed very quickly, so having help from dependable legal counsel is key to staying on top of things and effectively protecting your best interests.

Get Help From a Milford Attorney With a Domestic Violence Trial

Going to trial in criminal court for a domestic violence charge can be an unsettling experience with extremely high stakes. That said, you still have rights during this kind of proceeding, and proactively enforcing those rights is critical to minimizing the long-term impacts of this allegation on your personal and professional life.

Milford domestic violence trials are not the kind of thing anyone should try to or has to handle on their own. Instead, call Mark Sherman Law today to get the professional legal support you need, and click here to see 300+ verified reviews on Avvo.com from past clients who we helped through situations much like yours.