considered a conviction and need not be disclosed as such. Also unlike many misdemeanors, you cannot expunge a domestic battery plea from your record.
Besides the criminal repercussions, domestic violence is a crime bearing substantial stigma.
Newspapers give increased coverage to these cases. Many local newspapers report the names of individuals charged with a crime in their police blotters, and there is no legal way to stop them. Computer searches can turn up the news stories about the crime for years to come. As a result, some of my clients have experienced harassment even though they did not commit a crime
In many instances, an order of protection or “no contact” order is also issued. Generally, the order forbids even third party contact with the complaining witness. A misunderstanding about these terms can lead to a violation of the order and a separate set of criminal charges. A qualified attorney can help you avoid these pitfalls through better understanding of your order.
While press reports show that the United States has a tremendous problem with domestic violence, this is also an area prone to false allegations. Sometimes, a domestic violence charge can be used to gain an advantage in a divorce. Especially if you are falsely accused of striking a family member, call me immediately for a consultation.
For more details on false allegations of this nature, see
"One Million False Allegations of Domestic Violence Each Year, Report Finds".