Being charged with any form of assault family violence is a very serious matter. Not only may you face jail time or probation, many assault family violence cases involve restraining orders, meaning you may have to leave your house and your family immediately - even if you own the house or pay the rent. In addition, a conviction or probated sentence that includes a finding of assault family violence will affect your right to possess any firearms or to obtain a hunting license.<<BR>><<BR>>There is little evidence for the widely-held belief that abusing alcohol causes domestic violence. Although research indicates that men who drink heavily do commit more assaults that result in serious physical injury, the majority of abusive men are not heavy drinkers and the majority of men who are heavy drinkers do not abuse their partners. Even for batterers who drink, there is little evidence to suggest that drinking causes abusive behavior. In 76% of physically abusive incidents, there is no alcohol involved, and there is no evidence to suggest that alcohol use or dependence is linked to the other non-violent behaviors that are part of the pattern of assault family violence. It is true, however, that when cultural norms and expectations about male behavior after drinking include boisterous or aggressive behaviors, individual men are more likely to engage in such behaviors when under the influence of alcohol than when sober. There is a pervasive belief that alcohol lowers inhibitions and a historical tradition of holding people who commit crimes while under the influence of alcohol or other drugs less accountable than those who commit crimes in a sober state. Historically, society has not held batterers accountable for their abusive behavior. They are held even less accountable for battering perpetrated when they are under the influence of alcohol. The alcohol provides a ready and socially acceptable excuse for their violence.<<BR>><<BR>>“Domestic Violence” can be defined in legal and clinical terms. For clinical purposes, assault family violence is “assaultive behavior.” Domestic violence generally represents a pattern of behavior rather then a single isolated event. The pattern of behavior can take on many different forms, all of them involving physical violence or threats of physical violence. The violence may be accomplished through the use of hand, feet, weapons, or other objects. The National Institute of Justice estimates that a woman is battered every 18 seconds in the United States. Some studies have suggested that between 35 and 50 percent of the nation’s couples have experienced at least one violent incident in their relationship. Historically, the problem of violence in the home has been surrounded by a number of myths and misconceptions, which has perpetuated spouse abuse in society and has hampered the effective response of law enforcement.<<BR>><<BR>>Many domestic violence or spousal abuse charges occur during the divorce process or in child custody disputes. Unfortunately, in these situations one spouse may try to obtain an advantage over the other by making false or exaggerated accusations. Harris County, TX Criminal Lawyer Charles Johnson will work hard to build a strong defense against the domestic violence charges you face. We will carefully listen to you and investigate the events leading up to the charges. What is the context of the domestic abuse accusation? Did the alleged victim start the fight? Is there a custody issue at stake? Understanding the context of the event can help us prepare an effective defense strategy on your behalf. Our goal is to obtain a dismissal of the charges, a negotiated plea agreement that minimizes the penalties you face, or a not guilty verdict after trial.<<BR>><<BR>>If you have been charged with domestic assault, there are only three ways to avoid having a domestic violence conviction on your criminal record: 1) convince the prosecutor to drop the charges; 2) convince a judge or jury to find you not guilty; or 3) if it is a 1st offense assault family violence charge, you may be eligible to have the charge dismissed after a successful period of probation and the completion of anger management classes. In the most common case in which the defendant just lost control in an isolated incident, the last option is often the most appropriate because it gives the person a second chance to avoid the consequences of a domestic violence conviction. If this is not your first time in court on a assault family violence charge, if there are serious injuries, or if the case is charged as felony domestic abuse or malicious wounding, the stakes are of course much higher and a dismissal with probation may not be an option for you. Choosing the right criminal defense lawyer is even more important in these cases. the Top [Family Violence Law Firm in Houston] has experience in handling Assault Family Violence cases. He knows how to defend serious assault family violence cases and he knows how to win.
