New York City Domestic Violence Attorney
Over the last 30 years the consequences for Domestic Violence have become more severe as the government and politicians try to prove that they are “tough on crime.” Being charged with a Domestic Violence offense in New York City can be extremely embarrassing and frustrating, because of the very personal issues that must be exposed in the process. There is nothing more upsetting than the government meddling in your personal life, getting involved in your private disputes with your spouse, or telling you how to raise your children. Hiring a qualified New York City Domestic Violence attorney can increase your chances of a reaching a favorable outcome.
Possibly the most frustrating thing about being charged with a Domestic Violence offense is that it is a crime that is often based on the story of someone who is angry with the accused, and just wants revenge. Unfortunately, the system can be easily manipulated by someone with an agenda who wants revenge against his or her partner. This need for revenge usually comes from an outstanding family court matter, divorce, child custody dispute, or simply recently discovered infidelity. The New York City courts are full of men and women who were accused and charged with Domestic Violence offences, and either pled to something they did not do or went to trial and were wrongly convicted because they were set up.
Consequences of a NYC Domestic Violence Charge
The consequences of these unnecessary pleas or unjust convictions can last a lifetime. These crimes carry heavy fines, mandatory classes that last a year, and jail and prison sentences, and they are defined as crimes of moral turpitude. Moreover, some of them can be “strike” offenses for purposes of the Three Strikes Law. Domestic Violence crimes also can have grave immigration consequences and can lead to deportation from the United States. Many times, when children are involved, a conviction of a Domestic Violence crime in New York City can even mean losing custody of your kids.
In New York City, the police’s main priority after that fateful 911 call is made is to make an arrest. The prosecution’s priority is making sure that they get some type of conviction. The system is not interested in what really happened in the relationship, what the fight was really about, that the “victim” was actually the instigator, or that he or she was the aggressor and you were trying to defend yourself. Unfortunately, there are no real safeguards in the system to protect innocent men and women from being accused and charged of something they did not do. And even more unfortunate is that gender often plays a key role in Domestic Violence cases: men are almost always the accused. Whoever made the 911 call will almost always be defined as the “victim,” and that means that if you were not the one who made the call, you will be the one arrested when the police arrive.
Charges Cannot be Dropped
There is the misconception that a spouse/partner/girlfriend/etc can “drop” the charges after he or she has called the police and you have been arrested. That is not true. The District Attorney’s office will not drop the charges in a Domestic Violence case simply because a week or a month later the supposed Domestic Violence “victim” wants to drop the charges. The decision to file or not file a case is the sole decision of the D.A. That decision will be based on what is said on the 911 call, what is written in the police report, whether or not there were any injuries, and whether or not there have been any prior acts of Domestic Violence.
Hire a New York City Domestic Violence Attorney
The first thing to do if you are being investigated by the police or have been arrested for Domestic Violence is to hire a criminal defense attorney. The negative life-long consequences that can come from a Domestic Violence conviction cannot be overemphasized. George Vomvolakis knows how prosecutors and police investigate and put together a case against you. More importantly, he knows the mistakes that they usually make and the shortcuts that they take. Mr. Vomvolakis will use his expertise and knowledge to your advantage either in negotiating a plea or taking your case to trial in front of a jury. Many times it is not the facts that may result in a great disposition of your case, but the savvy, expertise and professionalism of your attorney when he presents your case to the prosecutor and the judge. Mr. Vomvolakis knows what prosecutors and judges are thinking and he knows what they need to hear in order to plea down or even dismiss your case.
If you or a loved one has been charged with domestic violence, you need a qualified New York City Domestic Violence Attorney to protect your rights. As a former prosecutor, Mr. Vomvolakis has the experience to aggressively defend you. Choosing a qualified criminal lawyer is an important and difficult decision. Call the Law Offices of George Vomvolakis today for a free consultation.