Prosecuting a Stamford Domestic Violence Case

There are many legal processes that must occur when prosecuting a Stamford domestic violence case. Due to the sometimes severe nature of the charge, the penalties attached to this act can often be quite severe. Apart from both fines and the possibility of jail time, an individual may suffer in their personal relationships. That can sometimes be the biggest hurdle to overcome after being charged with a domestic violence charge in Stamford.

If you have found yourself facing such a charge, it is pertinent that you contact a knowledgeable Stamford attorney immediately. Only a seasoned lawyer will be able to mount a strong defense to assist in lessening or dismissing any penalties you may be up against.

Prosecution Process

Understanding the priorities of the domestic violence prosecutor is a key advantage in all domestic violence cases. These prosecutors are typically fair people who try to separate the low-risk from the high-risk domestic violence cases. They will want to quickly resolve the low-risk cases and get them out of the court system. They will monitor and prosecute the high-risk cases so that there are no further allegations or actual violence between the parties involved in the underlying case.

It is very important for the defense attorney to understand and observe the prosecutors when they work, and understand which cases they prefer to prosecute. It is the defense attorney’s responsibility to try to convince the domestic violence prosecutors that their client is not guilty, and is not someone they should be prosecuting.

Stamford Superior Court Team Meetings

Every week, a domestic violence team will meet and discuss an individual’s Stamford Connecticut domestic violence case. This includes the family relations officers, the victim advocate, the prosecutor, and the Department of Children and Families liaison. The defense attorney does not get to participate in these meetings.

The domestic violence team will further discuss the week’s cases. The goal of that docket is to unify families, heal people, and try to get people out of domestic violence court through services, intervention, and rehabilitation, and not end up with people who have permanent criminal records. The domestic violence team understands that domestic violence crimes come with a higher sense of emotion, threat, and danger. They have to monitor these cases much more closely than a regular docket does.

Defense strategies are also very different in domestic violence court. By knowing what these domestic violence teams are trying to accomplish, an individual may be able to resolve cases more quickly in domestic violence court. An individual and their attorney can create a defense strategy that incorporates meaningful therapy, contrition, and acceptance of responsibility while, at the same time, preserving their right to go to a trial to fight against the Stamford domestic violence arrest.

Child Abuse & DCF Involvement

When there are children under the age of 18 in the house or in the vicinity of a domestic violence dispute, the arresting police officer is required by law as a mandated Department of Children and Families (DCF) reporter to call and report the accused individual to the DCF, even if they have not been arrested. That launches an entirely different investigation, separate and apart from the domestic violence case an individual will face in criminal court.

When an individual has a domestic violence arrest and children were in the house, even if they were sleeping and not in the room, a DCF officer will show up within 48 to 72 hours. There are two tracks of DCF investigations, one is a Family Assessment Response (FAR), and the second is called a Full Investigation. It is increasingly important to have an attorney present when handling these types of cases so they can properly prosecute your Stamford domestic violence case. This can help to ensure a successful outcome on your behalf.

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