Denver Domestic Violence Defense Lawyer
WHAT ARE THE TYPICAL PENALTIES FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN COLORADO
Each case involving Domestic Violence is different and must be addressed on an individual basis. That being said, there are certain typical penalties that a person charged with Domestic Violence in Colorado may face. Denver Domestic Violence Attorney Andres Guevara has extensive experience in defending charges of Domestic Violence all along the Front Range in courts such as Denver County and District Court, Arapahoe District Court, Adams and Jefferson County District Court ,and in the various Municipal Courts in the Denver Metro Area. Based on over fifteen years of legal experience, there are certain common penalties which a defendant will face.
COURT RELATED PENALTIES
For the typical misdemeanor domestic violence (assault) case, two years probation (supervised or unsupervised) may be expected. For individuals with a criminal record, or based on the nature of the crime alleged, jail time is also a possibility. Your conviction will be publicly accessible and searchable through the Colorado Bureau of Investigation and can be used against you in future proceedings. Moreover, if you plead guilty to a domestic violence charge, the court will issue a mandatory protection order. This protection order will be in place until the terms of sentence have been completed.
Courts will also impose a required Domestic Violence Treatment program which you must pay out of your own pocket. These courses are 36 weeks long programs offered through various centers along the front range. Costs of the programs are expensive. Moreover, if the initial allegation involved a claim of alcohol or drug use, the defendant may be required to take a separate drug/alcohol program.
Failure to complete these programs or any of the terms of probation can result in a violation of probation, additional fines, and long jail sentences.
COLLATERAL PENALTIES
In addition to the Court ordered penalties for pleading guilty to a domestic violence charge, you and your attorney should also discuss so-called "Collateral Penalties" to a plea. These are just an example of some of those "collateral penalties":
1. Difficulty finding or keeping employment
Employers conduct criminal background searches before hiring individuals and increasingly, employers are reluctant to hire individuals with domestic violence convictions. Certain public service jobs, such as the police and fire department, and teaching positions, take a hard stand against hiring people with domestic violence convictions. Even if you already have a job, certain employers will terminate employees with domestic violence convictions.
2. Child Custody and Divorce Cases
As described more fully here (put link to the main page with the paragraph on Domestic Violence in Divorce Cases), a domestic violence conviction will be used against you in any pending or future divorce or child custody case.
3. Professional Licenses
Licenses in the medical, legal, and financial fields, including other professional fields, will become more difficult to obtain or maintain with a domestic violence conviction.
4. The Stigma of a Domestic Violence Conviction
Even if certain agencies, banks, or individuals do not automatic preclude people with a domestic violence conviction, if given a choice, these entities will "play it safe" and choose to sever ties with an individual convicted of domestic violence. Unfortunately stereotypes are the rule, and people assume that anyone convicted of domestic violence is a dangerous person who will re-offend.
Considering the terrible penalties for a domestic violence conviction, make sure that you discuss your case with an experienced Domestic Violence Defense Attorney.
