Memphis Domestic Violence Attorney
Domestic violence is a serious offense and these kinds of cases aren’t taken lightly. If you’ve been accused of domestic violence, then you should immediately retain the services of one of our expert attorneys to ensure your case has the best possible outcome. Domestic assault is a crime that can hold severe consequences for the accused. Alternatively, if you are the victim of domestic violence or sexual abuse, it’s just as important to seek counsel.
What Is Domestic Violence?
Domestic violence includes a broad spectrum of abuses. It’s not just being pushed, shoved, or physically hurt in some way. In some cases, you may even be charged with intent to harm, which means that while no one was injured, the victim or arresting officers can assume you intended to inflict injury.
Types of domestic violence include:
- Physical Abuse
- Sexual Abuse
- Emotional Abuse
- Economic Abuse
- Psychological Abuse
- Threats
- Stalking
- Cyberstalking
The accusation of any one of the previously mentioned forms of abuse can land you fines and jail time. Because of the sensitive nature of these kinds of crimes, police, lawmakers, and judges all take these offenses very seriously, which is why you should seek professional representation if you’re charged.
Who Can File Charges?
Some people have the misconception that only a romantically involved individual can file a domestic violence charge. However, you can be accused of domestic assault by a spouse, a significant or intimate other, other family members including children, or anyone else living within your household. That includes roommates or someone renting a room from you.
Another important detail that most people fail to recognize is that if police are called to the scene of a domestic violence call it is highly likely that someone or multiple people will be arrested. Due to the nature of these kinds of calls, police don’t leave cases like these up to chance and will typically make an effort to bring an individual into custody. This can occur even if the accuser doesn’t intend to press charges because they want to ensure a potential victim isn’t being coerced or intimidated into staying silent.
Does Domestic Violence Show Up On A Background Check?
One of the major reasons you need an excellent lawyer on your team when being accused of domestic violence is that, if convicted, these charges will appear on a background check. Misdemeanors or felony domestic abuse charges will be present on your record for the rest of your life, which is why it’s so important to keep a conviction like this from sticking. While it’s illegal to discriminate based on certain criteria, TN is a Right to Hire/Fire state, which means your company doesn’t have to provide a reason for termination. Alternatively, future employers may choose to discard your resume if they find charges like this during a background check.
Penalties For Domestic Assault in Tennessee
The fines and penalties you face should you be convicted can vary widely depending on the ruling you receive. These can be as little as $500 and up to 6 months in jail, or as severe as $10,000 and up to 15 years in prison.
We Can Help You Preserve Your Reputation
At Chiozza Law Firm, we’ve seen just about every possible scenario and outcome. Our compassionate, experienced lawyers know that there are several sides to every domestic abuse story. We know that sometimes a misunderstanding can lead to serious consequences, which is why we examine every piece of evidence and build the strongest case possible to get you the most favorable outcome. To find out more about how we can help, contact us today.