Weston Domestic Violence Lawyer
The State of Connecticut takes allegations of violence against family and/or household members very seriously, especially when they allegedly threaten the safety of children. Working with an experienced Weston domestic violence lawyer could give you a much easier time building a comprehensive defense strategy, ensuring your rights are respected, and pursuing a favorable resolution to the accusations against you.
What Counts as Family Violence?
As per Connecticut General Statutes §46b-38a, someone commits “family violence” when they cause physical harm to a family or household member, or threaten such harm in a way that puts a family or household member in reasonable fear of imminent injury. This section of state law clarifies that any of the following parties may be considered a “family or household member”:
- Current or former spouses
- Parents, children, siblings, and other relatives by marriage or blood
- Non-family members residing in the same household
- A co-parent of a child, regardless of whether they and the defendant were ever married or whether they ever cohabitated
- A current or former partner in an intimate relationship
What Offenses Are Considered to Be Domestic Violence?
Given the somewhat broad definition of domestic violence, a variety of criminal offenses could be considered domestic violence, most commonly the numerous degrees of assault defined under C.G.S. §§53a-59 through 53a-61a. Other offenses that commonly receive this designation include:
- Threatening, under G.S. §53a-62
- Reckless endangerment, under G.S. §§53a-63 or 53a-64
- Strangulation under G.S. §§53a-64aa through 53a-64cc
- Breach of the peace, under G.S. §53a-181
- Stalking, under G.S. §§53a-181c through 53a-181f
- Disorderly conduct, under G.S. §53a-182
A Weston domestic violence attorney could help prepare a defense strategy for any criminal charge classified as domestic violence.
What Consequences Could a Conviction Lead to?
An offense being designated as domestic violence does not allow state prosecutors to seek harsher criminal sanctions upon conviction, so the criminal consequences that come from a domestic violence charge can range from minor fines to lengthy prison sentences depending on the classification of the underlying offense. What a domestic violence designation does allow for, though, is a separate case in family court, during which a judge will almost certainly issue a protective order against the accused individual.
At the discretion of the court, a protective order stemming from a domestic violence allegation may simply forbid further harassment of the protected party, prohibit the involved parties from being physically close to each other, or forbid any and all contact between the involved parties. To learn more about protective orders in Connecticut domestic violence cases, click here.
Additionally, if a domestic violence offense allegedly put children at risk of harm, a defendant may be subject to a Connecticut Department of Children and Families (DCF) investigation as well, as a domestic violence lawyer in Weston could explain in further detail.
Seek Help from a Weston Domestic Violence Attorney
Domestic violence charges can be complicated to defend against, as you will have to contend not only with criminal prosecution but potentially additional restrictions levied against you by a family court judge.
An experienced Weston domestic violence lawyer could be your strongest and most essential ally in your fight to preserve your future prospects today. Don’t just take our word for it, read our certified 5-star reviews at Avvo.com, and then give us a call today.