Domestic Violence

Domestic violence is commonly charged between a husband and wife or girlfriend and boyfriend. However, it can and has been charged against roommates, siblings, and parents. All that really is required is that the parties to be a household or family member. Domestic violence also does not require injuries, in fact it only requires touching of an insulting or provoking nature. It is also a fact that a defendant can NOT receive court supervision for this offense!

Also common with domestic violence is that when someone is arrested they are bonded out with a condition of a no contact order with the alleged victim. This is separate from a order of protection. A no contact order can be confusing. It doesn't prevent a victim from contacting the defendant. The victim can call, however if the defendant answers and carries on a conversation or comes over for a visit at the victim's request the defendant has just committed another offense that puts him back into jail. You also can NOT communicate using third parties, emails, letters, or any other form of communication. The only way to communicate is to go to court and file the paperwork to get the no contact order lifted.

It is also a misconception that a victim can drop the charges. That is NOT true! A victim can request a State's Attorney to drop charges, but the State's Attorney is not required to honor that request.