There are many criminal charges that come with a social stigma, regardless of whether the charge ultimately leads to a conviction. Domestic violence charges can be included in this category. Even if the charge is ultimately dismissed, or the defendant pleads guilty to another charge instead, simply being charged with domestic violence can come with some harsh consequences.
For example, a person in Colorado who has children and who is facing a domestic violence charge may be kept from seeing their children by a court order. Defendants could also be kept from returning to their homes, and they may not be able to call or otherwise contact the alleged victim in the case. Such “no contact” orders are common in domestic violence cases.
And then, of course, there are the consequences when news of your arrest becomes public knowledge. Your employer may not want to deal with any perceived consequences of having an employee on the job who is facing domestic violence charges, which could lead to a defendant being terminated from employment. Whether it is fair or not, employers are, for the most part, entitled to take this type of action even when the charge has not yet resulted in a conviction.
Colorado residents who have been arrested for domestic violence charges need to act quickly to minimize the impact of the harsh consequences of such a charge. At our law firm, we do our best to help our clients in these types of tenuous situations. A strong criminal defense strategy is crucial. For more information, please visit the domestic violence overview section of our law firm’s website.