What Not to Do When You’re Facing Domestic Violence Charges

A fight between you and your spouse spiraled out of control — and you’re probably headed for a divorce. You’re also facing charges for domestic violence and have been slapped with a temporary no-contact order.

At this point, you need to concentrate on improving your situation, and that means exploring all your potential defense options. It also means not doing anything that will make your situation even worse.

3 things that can make your situation worse

Most people in your position simply want to make the whole thing go away — but that’s not likely to happen. Unfortunately, people charged with domestic violence frequently make mistakes that can lead to additional charges — and that’s definitely not your goal.

With that in mind, here are a few lines you shouldn’t cross:

  1. If you’re currently in jail, don’t call your spouse and beg them to recant in hopes the charges will be dropped. By the same token, don’t call your friends or relatives and ask them to speak to your spouse for you. That’s a violation of the no-contact order and those phone calls are not private. Prosecutors can and do listen to the recordings.
  2. If you’re free on bond, don’t go back to the family home to pick up a few things. You may need your laptop, your prescription meds, or other important items, but don’t go near the family home — even during times, you know your spouse won’t be home. (If there are things you cannot live without and cannot replace, talk to your attorney about arranging for their pickup under police supervision.)
  3. If you have access to social media, don’t contact your spouse, their friends, or their relatives. Don’t tag them in a post, “poke” them in messenger, or mention them either directly or indirectly in any disparaging way. Keep entirely silent about your situation. In fact, it’s really better to stay off social media entirely pending the outcome of your case. What you don’t post can’t be used against you later.

In essence, your goal right now is to demonstrate the fact that you’re a model citizen who understands the court’s directives and can follow the rules. That sort of attitude may be critical to your defense.

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