Maryland Domestic Violence Lawyers
Domestic violence law aims to punish those who harm others either emotionally or physically. The affected people may belong to the same family as the perpetrator of the crime. They may also be a closely related family member, such as a spouse. This law also deals with civil protections which are available to all victims who have suffered from this kind of harm or even the threat of harm.
Domestic violence has now been made a crime with the enactment of federal legislation. The most notable part of this law is crimes against women. This is popularly known as the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). The vast majority of domestic violence cases, however, are prosecuted at the state level.
In Maryland, domestic violence is prosecuted through the use of Assault charges. The statutory provisions are essentially the same, but there are some different sentencing issues that present themselves in these cases. As a general rule, Domestic Violence offenders are typically required to complete anger management courses and/or specific batterers programs through organizations, such as The House of Ruth.
Whether the conduct becomes a felony or misdemeanor will be largely dependent on the severity of the harm inflicted, or intended to be inflicted, upon the victim.
Response to allegations of domestic violence
If you find yourself accused of domestic violence, the first thing to do is to obey the rules of the court. If you face a restraining order or criminal charges, you should be very careful and particular about all court hearings and deadlines. The court may limit or outright prohibit contact with the victim.
Obeying this order involves no physical meetings or phone calls to the victim. Indirect contact should also be avoided under all circumstances. This includes all kinds of correspondence such as phone calls, text messages, and social media correspondence, such as emails and messages. Using a third party acquaintance should also be avoided. Ignoring the accuser at all costs is advised and contacting an attorney is extremely important.
What are the legal options in case of an arrest?
A defendant who has been charged with Assault classified as domestic violence should discuss all options with an attorney. This is important as the lawyer will understand how the court process operates and can help to minimize the accused’s exposure.
For more information, or a free consultation, contact Altmark, Rotter & Trock, LLP locally at 410-783-9230, or toll-free outside of Baltimore 1-(888) 966-5566.