Individuals in the Long Beach area can be charged with domestic violence if they are accused of harming or harassing a current or previous intimate partner. The penalties for domestic violence can include fines and incarceration, taking away years of your life.
In many cases, police officers are biased against one side or the other in domestic violence cases. You can increase the odds that you’ll be treated fairly by contacting a domestic violence lawyer in Long Beach immediately after you are accused of any act of wrongdoing.
Let the professionals at the Simmrin Law Group start building your defense today.
Long Beach’s Definition of Domestic Violence
The state of California uses domestic violence as an umbrella term to describe many different actions. Individuals can be charged with domestic violence anytime they harass or harm an intimate partner or another family member. Long Beach defines intimate partners as:
- Spouses
- Cohabitants
- Fiancées
- The Parent of Your Child
You can face criminal charges for harming a current partner or an ex. There are also some domestic violence charges designed to prosecute individuals who abuse their children. The court system can prosecute you for acts of domestic violence if you:
- Hit, Push, or Physically Abuse Someone
- Stalk, Threaten, Sexually, or Emotionally Abuse Someone
- Damage or Destroy Someone’s Property
- Abandon Someone
You will have the best chances of beating a domestic violence charge if you contact a Long Beach criminal defense lawyer immediately. It takes time to build a successful defense for domestic violence charges, so you should act quickly.
Examples of Specific Domestic Violence Charges
The courts in Long Beach can use a wide variety of different charges to prosecute individuals accused of domestic violence. These charges generally come with different penalties. You will need to build different defenses depending on the exact nature of the charges you are facing. Individuals who harass or harm a domestic partner could be charged with:
Domestic Battery
Domestic battery charges can apply it you touch someone in a way that harms them or that they find offensive. Charges of domestic battery generally only apply to intimate partners. You could face the following penalties if convicted of domestic battery:
- Fines: Up to $2,000
- Jail Time: Up to 1 Year
Corporal Injury on a Spouse or Cohabitant
You can be charged with corporal injury on a spouse if you physically harm an intimate partner. The penalties for corporal injury on a spouse can include:
- Fines: Up to $6,000
- Jail Time: Up to 1 Year
- Prison Time: Up to 4 Years
Corporal Injury on a Child
Individuals who abuse their children can be charged with corporal injury on a child. Child abuse is generally punished more harshly than other types of domestic violence, so you should take any accusation very seriously. You could face these penalties for a child abuse conviction:
- Fines: Up to $6,000
- Jail Time: Up to 6 Years
Let a Long Beach domestic violence lawyer help you fight any of these charges before it’s too late.
Other Penalties Associated with Domestic Violence Convictions
Incarceration and fines are basic penalties for a domestic violence conviction. Depending on your exact situation, you could also face other repercussions if you are accused of harming or harassing a family member.
Individuals with a domestic violence conviction on their criminal record may:
Be Penalized During Divorce Settlements
The court system may limit the amount of spousal support you receive in a divorce after a domestic violence conviction. The court will look up to five years into the past when considering instances of domestic violence.
Be Denied Custody of Their Children
Judges often refuse to grant custody of children to parents who have a record of domestic violence convictions. You could be unable to see your children if a domestic violence allegation goes unchallenged.
Let our team of professional violent crimes lawyers help you decide on the best way to handle any domestic violence accusation.
Our Long Beach Domestic Violence Lawyers Are Ready to Help
It can be difficult to know where to turn for help if you are accused of an act of domestic violence. The team at the Simmrin Law Group knows how important it is that you get immediate legal advice. You can reach our domestic violence lawyers in Long Beach right away to take advantage of a FREE initial case evaluation.
Make sure you are ready to take on a domestic violence accusation by completing our online contact form or calling (310) 997-4688.