If you have been a victim of assault charges then you appreciate the huge role played by an assault charges attorney in helping you argue your case. An assault can be categorized as a felony or misdemeanor depending on the extent of assault and the number of times that you have committed the same offense. A misdemeanor is a simple case and often attracts a lesser punishment. A felony, on the other hand, is more serious and if you are convicted, you could be looking at several years in prison.

Assault charge categories

Assault charges come in different categories that include:

Assault in the first degree: This is an assault that is committed by the use of firearms. The penalty for this assault is usually a felony conviction with the possibility of spending up to 25 years behind bars.

Assault in the second degree: These are offenses that are less severe than those in the first-degree category and usually attract a penalty of up to 10 years in prison, a fine of $2,500, or both. You should expect the sentence to be stiffer if you committed the offense against a police officer.

There are other categories of charges including poisoning and intentional contamination, life-threatening injury by driving under the influence, reckless endangerment law, and assault by an inmate. The charges can be treated as felonies or misdemeanors based on how efficiently your lawyer argues your case.

If you have fallen party to an assault case it is important that you inform your assault attorney as soon as possible. To help the lawyer build a solid case and increase your chances of winning the case, it’s highly recommended that you tell the lawyer the truth. If you started the assault or you were defending yourself, you should give the lawyer all the details. Many people have lost cases because of failing to tell their lawyers the truth. While you might feel that you are protecting yourself, telling lies works to the advantage of your rival as it allows him/her to build a case against you. The situation is worse if your rival has evidence.

Assault charges are serious offenses and you should treat them with a lot of seriousness. As explained above, you can see yourself spending decades behind bars if found guilty. To increase your chances of winning your case, work with an experienced criminal defense lawyer. As mentioned, always tell the truth to help the lawyer come up with a solid plan to win the case.

Taking A Look At Domestic Violence

Domestic violence occurs when a family member assaults or threatens another family or household member. Domestic violence laws protect different people including roommates, housemates, children, elders, dating partners, spouses, and same-sex partners. Domestic violence is grouped into two broad categories: Misdemeanor and criminal.

Misdemeanor domestic violence

In all states including Maryland, misdemeanor domestic violence is taken very seriously and involves the aggressive intervention of police and other legal authorities. In most cases, the penalties of the misdemeanors are fines or jail time of up to one year. As mentioned, the issue is taken very seriously and it’s wise that you arm yourself with a domestic violence lawyer to represent you in court.

In addition to getting fined or/and serving jail time, you also risk losing custody or visitation rights of your child. You can also lose your right to owning a firearm. In rare cases, you can lose your ability to obtain employment or housing.

Domestic violence as criminal charges

While most of the domestic violence is treated as a misdemeanor, it can be elevated to criminal charges. The charges can be elevated if the violence involved sexual assault or aggravated assault.

Why you need a criminal defense attorney

As mentioned, domestic violence can see you serving a jail term or paying a huge fine. To protect yourself you should arm yourself with a criminal defense lawyer. The professional will not only represent you in court, he/she will also advise you on what to do.

Sometimes the allegations made against you might be false or exaggerated. The lawyer will help you in proving that the allegations were unnecessary thus you can see yourself walking free. If the accusations are proved to be true it doesn’t mean that everything is gone. The criminal lawyer will help you in securing a plea bargain and help you get a reduced sentence.

If you are the victim of domestic violence you should also get a criminal lawyer who will protect your rights and safety. The lawyer will also help you file the necessary court orders and remedies.

Conclusion

Domestic violence is a serious offense and can destroy your life. Prevention is always better than cure. To avoid the charges from being made against you, you should stay away from situations that put you at the risk of committing the offense. When you get into a disagreement, avoid arguments. If things are getting ugly, walk out of the house and return when you have cooled down.