A domestic violence conviction carries long-term consequences that affect every aspect of your life in the most unpleasant ways.
If you want the best chance at reducing charges or avoiding the harshest penalties, hiring an experienced trial attorney is your best option. A strong defense can help challenge the prosecution’s evidence, negotiate plea deals, and potentially keep you out of jail.
Without a strong defense to do all of this for you, you’re very likely to suffer the full extent of the consequences of a domestic violence conviction. Here’s what the future would look like for you then:
Restricted Employment Opportunities
One of the first hurdles you’ll face is finding a job. Many employers run background checks, and a domestic violence conviction can be a red flag, especially for jobs that require trust, security clearance, or interaction with vulnerable individuals.
Fields like healthcare, education, law enforcement, and childcare often have strict policies against hiring anyone with a violent criminal history.
Even if your profession doesn’t explicitly bar you, private employers still have the right to reject applicants based on their criminal record. This means you may find yourself facing multiple rejections, limited job prospects, or having to accept lower-paying work.
If your career requires a professional license, such as nursing, law, or teaching, a conviction could result in the suspension or revocation of your credentials, making it even harder to rebuild your life.
Less Access To Your Kids
If you have children, a domestic violence conviction can significantly impact your parental rights. Family courts prioritize the safety and well-being of children, and a history of domestic violence can lead to severe restrictions on custody and visitation.
In many cases, convicted individuals face limited or supervised visitation. If the court determines that you pose a risk to your child, you could lose custody altogether. Even if you retain some rights, you may be required to complete parenting or anger management classes before regaining full visitation privileges.
Your relationship with your children may suffer, especially if the other parent uses the conviction against you in ongoing custody disputes.
Incarceration And Criminal Penalties
Domestic violence laws are strict, and the penalties for a conviction are severe. In states like Colorado, even a misdemeanor domestic violence charge can result in a minimum of six months in jail.
If convicted of a felony, you could face a minimum of one year in prison, with aggravated cases leading to sentences of 4, 6, or even 10+ years behind bars.
Furthermore, you will likely have to pay hefty fines, sometimes up to $5,000, along with additional court fees, probation costs, and mandatory domestic violence classes.
Restraining Orders
Even if a domestic violence case does not result in a conviction, an accusation alone can lead to a restraining order. These court orders prohibit any contact with the accuser and may require you to move out of your home, stay away from your children’s school, or avoid mutual friends.
Common requirements include travel restrictions, drug and alcohol testing, mandatory counseling, and electronic monitoring. Violating any probation terms results in immediate incarceration, often with no chance for leniency.
Firearm Prohibition
In most states, a domestic violence conviction results in the automatic loss of firearm ownership rights. Federal law prohibits anyone convicted of a domestic violence misdemeanor or felony from purchasing or possessing firearms. If you already own guns, you’ll likely be required to surrender them.
Getting your firearm rights restored is an uphill battle. The only way to legally possess a gun again is to have your conviction overturned, which is an extremely difficult legal process that requires the help of an experienced attorney.
Until then, even attempting to purchase a gun can result in additional criminal charges.
Financial Burden
On top of legal fees, you could be ordered to pay fines as high as $5,000. Court costs, probation fees, and mandatory domestic violence classes all add up quickly. If you lose your job or struggle to find work, these financial burdens become even harder to bear.
Also, being sued for damages in civil court can drain your savings and assets. If the survivor of the abuse seeks compensation for medical expenses, lost income, or emotional trauma, you could be on the hook for thousands, or even tens of thousands, of dollars.
