Pennsylvania law takes domestic violence very seriously, and imposes significant legal consequences on people who are convicted of crimes involving domestic violence. Potential penalties include jail time, fines, mandatory counseling, and loss of child custody. Domestic violence cases are often extremely fact-sensitive, and may involve two people with a significantly different version of events. There are many different ways an attorney can defend against allegations of domestic violence, and the specific defenses raised depends on the circumstances of your case. Anyone facing a Pennsylvania domestic violence case should retain the services of an experienced Philadelphia domestic violence attorney as soon as possible.
Domestic violence refers to violence between intimate partners or members of the same family or household. While the term generally refers to acts of physical violence, modern definitions also include emotional or psychological abuse as types of domestic violence. As a result, domestic violence can take many different forms, including:
- Slapping
- Kicking
- Throwing objects
- Financial neglect
- Emotional abuse
- Intimidating
- Stalking
There are several ways allegations of domestic violence can be defended against, and an experienced attorney can help you present the strongest defense possible. In cases involving physical violence, a defendant will often claim that their violent actions were justified based on a need to defend themselves against physical attack. In order to raise this defense, the defendant introduces evidence that their use of violence was justified based upon a reasonable fear of imminent physical harm. A related defense is that of “battered woman” or “battered person’s” syndrome. This defense is used in situations where a person resorts to violence in retaliation for a long-term pattern of physical or psychological abuse. It is distinct from a self-defense claim in that the defendant does not claim an immediate threat.
Contact a Philadelphia criminal defense attorney today for a free consultation
Allegations of domestic violence have the potential to result in serious legal and collateral consequences. An attorney who understands how to defend against a domestic violence case may be able to have the potential penalties you face significantly reduced or even have the case dropped. Philadelphia criminal defense lawyer Brian Zeiger is committed to helping each client he represents obtain the best possible outcome in his or her case. In order to schedule a free consultation with Mr. Zeiger, call the law office of The Zeiger Firm at (215) 546-0340. To contact us via email, please fill out and submit the online contact form at the left side of this page.
