How to Behave When You’re Accused of Domestic Violence
If you’re accused of domestic violence, you may feel as though your world is crashing around you. With such a serious offense laid against you, you’ll want to do everything possible to clear your name and avoid conviction. While it is very easy to get caught up in your emotions and try to handle things on your own, there’s rarely a good idea.
Instead, it’s best to hire a defense attorney to advocate on your behalf and follow some important do’s and don’ts throughout the process.
Do Take Photos of Your Injuries
In some cases, you may be charged with domestic violence even though you were only defending yourself from harm in the first place. Especially if you sustained injuries during the altercation, take photos of any scrapes, cuts, bruises, or other signs of defense so they can be used to help clear your name.
Do Follow Orders of Protection
It’s not uncommon for those who accuse someone of domestic violence to file an order of protection or restraining order against the accused. This order can include children as well as the person filing the order and can outline details pertaining to:
Personal Conduct
This can include contacting, stalking, threatening, or disturbing the peace of the protected parties.
Proximity
The order may bar you from going within a certain distance of the person, their home, place of employment, etc.
Residence
If you live with the protected person, certain orders can require you to move out of the residence with only personal belongings and clothing until your hearing date.
If you are given a restraining order by your accuser, it’s essential that you follow the terms in order to avoid further legal ramifications.
Do Look for Housing Options
Especially if you have been served with an order that requires you to stay away from your accuser, you will need to find alternative living arrangements until your case is resolved. This also may be wise to do anyway, in order to feel more at ease during your legal proceedings and prevent further tension with you and your accuser.
If you need to go to your shared residence to get your belongings, it’s best to have your attorney arrange the time that way you don’t risk any protective order violations.
Don’t Air Details on Social Media
When you’re facing DV charges, anything the prosecution can legally get their hands on can be used as evidence against you — including your social media posts. Whether it’s proving you were at the location at the time of the supposed incident or you try to appeal to your followers that you aren’t guilty, your social media posts can give the prosecution ammunition against you.
While you’re going fighting domestic violence charges, it’s essential to understand how to handle your social media — and even better to stay off of it entirely.
Don’t Speak to Third Parties About the Case
While you may feel the need to vent about your feelings toward your case, it’s best not to discuss any details of your case with anyone but your attorney. Not only can those people share what you’re telling them, potentially creating more problems for you, but if the prosecution thinks you may have divulged information to someone, they could subpoena them to speak against you in court.
Domestic Violence Defense in Orange County
At the Law Offices of Randy Collins, our Orange County domestic violence attorneys know your rights. We have more than 45 years of combined experience to bring to your case and fight charges on your behalf. Our lawyers will help you understand the charges you’re facing and do their best to work toward obtaining a favorable case outcome.
Contact us today to schedule a free case consultation.