Three Crucial Steps to Take After a Domestic Battery Arrest

Being arrested and charged with domestic violence or domestic battery can be a traumatic experience. The events that led to your arrest likely happened in a hurricane of emotions, and the arrest itself may have seemed like it happened in the blink of an eye, without the police or anyone else listening to your side of the story.

It is a difficult time, made more so by thinking about the possible consequences of a conviction. Significant jail time is a possibility, of course, but loss of employment opportunities and restrictions on how and when you can spend time with your kids are just two more examples of the long-lasting effects of a domestic battery conviction.

While you may be in a bad situation, you don’t want to do anything to make it worse and should take immediate action to protect yourself. If you’ve been arrested and charged with domestic violence, make sure you do these three crucial things to give yourself the best chance of a positive outcome:

• Call a criminal defense attorney It is critically important to speak with an Indiana criminal defense attorney as soon as possible after you have been arrested. Many people charged with domestic battery are under the mistaken impression that if their spouse “drops the charges” everything will be okay. The reality is that only prosecutors can decide whether to seek a conviction. Relying on that mistaken belief, or hoping that your spouse or significant other doesn’t show up is a foolish and risky decision that can lead directly to a conviction. Don’t leave your future to chance and call an experienced criminal defense attorney as soon as possible.
• Document Your Own Injuries. It is not unusual for individuals accused of domestic violence to suffer their own injuries. In many cases, the individual being accused is actually the victim. When police arrive on the scene, they make assumptions that result in a wrongful arrest. “Defensive injuries” can include scratch marks, bite wounds, bruises, lacerations, and other injuries. Document your injuries by taking high-quality pictures at many different angles immediately after the incident. These photos can be invaluable in defending your case and fighting the charges against you.
• Follow the Court’s Order. In some domestic battery cases, the judge will order the accused to have “no contact” with the alleged victim. Once a no contact order is in place, you are prohibited from calling, texting, emailing, or approaching the other person. You are also barred from going to a home you share with the alleged victim, even if it is just to pick up some clothes or other personal items. In some cases, however, an alleged victim reaches out to the accused after things have cooled off. If this happens, do not violate the no contact order, even if the alleged victim assures you that he or she wishes to drop the charges or wants you to come home. Your attorney can help you modify or eliminate the no contact order through the court system, which protects you from a potential violation of the order.

Razumich Law: Indiana Domestic Battery Defense

If you have been accused of a domestic battery offense, you need an attorney who will fight to ensure that your case is properly defended. I can help, and I encourage you to contact me immediately at 317-983-5333 so that we can begin discussing the facts of your case.