Domestic Abuse and Domestic Violence

Don’t Fight Domestic Abuse Charges Alone

Domestic abuse battery charges in Louisiana are taken very seriously by all parties involved. If your spouse or significant other calls the local police to accuse you of domestic violence, the authorities will almost surely question you and potentially take you into custody. However, domestic abuse charges can be difficult to prove and prosecute. There are often no eyewitnesses and the evidence is one person’s word against another’s. Significant others frequently call the police after a heated argument which does not lead to violence solely to upset their spouse. At Big River Trial Attorneys, we’ve handled numerous domestic abuse cases and we have the experience to help protect your rights if you’ve been charged with a crime.

Domestic Abuse Laws In Louisiana

The state of Louisiana defines “domestic abuse” as “the intentional use of force or violence committed by one household member or family member upon the person of another household member or family member.” The victim can be any of the following:

• spouses,
• former spouses,
• parents,
• children,
• stepparents, stepchildren,
• foster parents, foster children
• any person presently or formerly living in the same residence with the offender and who is or was involved in a sexual or intimate relationship with the offender,
• any child of the offender regardless of where the child resides.

Domestic abuse charges can carry severe sentences, largely depending on any injuries sustained and whether you have previously been convicted of domestic abuse. Jail time for domestic abuse convictions can range from 30 days to 30 years depending on the facts of the case.
Additionally, a household member alleging domestic violence may seek an emergency court-issued order of protection. In this case, the alleged abuser will not be present at the hearing and a law enforcement officer will tell the judge that the emergency order is needed. The order expires after 72 hours, but after this point the court may additionally issue a “temporary order of protection” in which the alleged abuser will be present during the meeting. An order of protection may cause you to lose temporary custody of your child as well as the ability to go to your residence or speak to your significant other. You should contact an experienced criminal attorney in Baton Rouge as soon as you have received notice of a petition for an order of protection.

Defending Domestic Abuse Charges

A domestic abuse conviction can have severe repercussions on your family life, future career, and ability to gain custody of any children. A domestic violence charge is often brought out of anger at a household member and it is important to speak with a Louisiana domestic violence lawyer concerning the true facts of the case, as well as present any witnesses who were at the scene of the occurrence. A household member may want to drop charges against the alleged domestic violence attacker, but a prosecutor will more than likely attempt to pressure the household member to move forward with charges. Also, just because the family or household member no longer wants to pursue the charges does not mean that the state will drop the charges.

Louisiana Criminal Defense Law Firm

Domestic violence is a hot political issue. This reality can turn an accusation of domestic violence into a devastatingly effective weapon against the accused, regardless of whether it is true or not. Even in cases where the allegations are true, defendants who lack effective legal representation are often “thrown to the lions” in court, due to the emotionally charged nature of this offense.
Moreover, many domestic violence cases boil down to a “he said, she said” situation, where the only real evidence is the testimony of the accuser. Other cases involve evidence that can be interpreted in more than one way. A good Louisiana domestic violence attorney knows how to investigate an accusation in order to uncover evidence and construct arguments that other lawyers would miss.

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Protect Your Rights

Your case may seem hopeless and the prosecution may seem invincible to you right now. As experienced criminal defense lawyers, we understand the temptation to despair in a situation like this – we have seen it all too often. Take heart, because you can fight back, and we are here to help you do it. As a small law firm rather than a giant mega-firm, our defense attorneys will not ignore you or delegate your case to a junior associate just because you are not a high profile celebrity. You will enjoy direct access, and we will treat your case as if we were defending ourselves against a criminal prosecution.

An Experienced Baton Rouge Domestic Violence Lawyer Is Available To Help You

If you are being investigated for domestic violence anywhere in Louisiana, or if you have already been charged, call Big River Trial Attorneys at (225) 963-9638 or complete our online contact form so that we can schedule a free initial evaluation of your case and discuss your options.