Domestic battery, which is sometimes called “spousal abuse” or “spousal battery,” is a domestic violence offense that applies to intimate partners in California. Intimate partners can be of the opposite gender or same sex, and may be married, divorced, living together, have children in common, or be dating or were formerly dating.

Under California law, domestic battery is an offense known as a “wobbler,” meaning that it can be charged as either a misdemeanor or a felony depending on the severity of the individual case. Misdemeanor battery carries a maximum penalty of a one-year jail sentence and a $2,000 fine. However, if serious bodily injury, such as broken bones, loss of consciousness or a concussion occurs, the battery will likely be charged as a felony which carries a maximum of four years in state prison.

Although the penalties just described list the maximum amount of prison time and the highest fine that a first-time offender faces, it is not a complete list of the penalties that ultimately face the accused. Furthermore, a prior battery conviction will likely invoke an even stiffer sentence.

If the defendant is placed on probation (which is usually the case), it will remain in effect for at least three years. There are certain mandatory terms of probation with respect to any California intimate partner abuse crime and include the booking process if the defendant wasn’t booked upon arrest, issuance of a Criminal Protective Order against the defendant, the offender’s participation in a batterer’s class, and an additional fine payable to specific domestic violence funds.

An individual convicted of domestic battery who also has prior battery convictions will serve a mandatory jail sentence of at least 48 hours in addition to any imprisonment ordered in the pending case. This is another reason why it is so important for an accused (especially an accused who has a prior battery conviction) to retain legal counsel who has experience dealing with California domestic abuse cases. Without a competent attorney, a defendant will definitely serve the mandatory time in jail upon a second conviction. However, a skilled defense attorney will aggressively defend his or her client by arguing that imprisoning the defendant does not serve the best interests of justice. He or she further knows what facts and circumstances will help convince the judge accordingly.

A conviction for domestic battery may also bring professional licensing restrictions. Under California law, a licensing board may suspend or revoke a professional license if the license-holder has been convicted of a crime, if the crime is substantially related to the qualifications, functions, or duties of the business or profession for which the license was issued. This means that a conviction could potentially end an individual’s career.

Finally, an individual may not only be charged criminally for domestic battery, but may be sued in civil court for the abuse as well. In a civil court, a person who is found liable for committing this wrong is subject to additional heavy fines and a Civil Protective Order but cannot be sentenced to jail or prison.

With such devastating consequences, it is imperative that an individual who has been arrested on a battery charge hires a qualified criminal defense attorney who is familiar with all of the defenses that apply to this crime. The attorneys from The Kavinoky Law Firm have successfully defended countless individuals who were facing intimate partner abuse charges. The lawyers at The Kavinoky Law Firm receive ongoing education and training in this highly complex and technical area of the law, which is directly responsible for their outstanding results. When things are at their worst, the attorneys at The Kavinoky Law Firm are at their best! Click here for a free consultation and for the best representation.

Firearm restrictions in domestic violence cases

In California, domestic violence laws apply to all intimate partners, including both heterosexual and homosexual persons who are married or divorced, living together, have children together, and who are or were dating. When the police are dispatched to a domestic abuse call, they are usually under obligation to temporarily remove any firearms or other deadly weapons from the home or from the scene.

When an offender is arrested for committing battery, sexual battery, intentional infliction of injury, criminal threats, intimidation, the violation of a protective order, or stalking against his or her intimate partner, the obligation to remove any and all deadly weapons applies. In addition, if the accuser obtains a restraining order against the accused, the accused cannot own, possess, purchase, receive or attempt to purchase or receive a firearm while the order is in effect. In fact, possession of a firearm under these circumstances is a crime in and of itself, punishable as a federal offense.

If the police do not take the firearms from the accused’s home, he or she must voluntarily surrender all firearms within 24 hours of being served with a restraining order. “Surrendering firearms” means either selling them to a licensed gun dealer or leaving them with local law enforcement officials (who will likely charge storage fees). In addition, the accused will be required to file a receipt with the court showing that his or her firearms were surrendered to a local law enforcement agency or sold to a licensed gun dealer within 72 hours after receiving the order. Ignoring this mandate or disposing of the firearms illegally will only invite additional criminal charges.

If owning a firearm is necessary as part of the defendant’s job and his or her employer is unable to temporarily assign the individual to another position, there is a possibility (although generally unlikely) that the order may be modified to allow the defendant to carry his or her firearm at work. Without that modification, an accused may lose his or her job. Contacting an experienced attorney as soon as possible after an arrest (and not trying to handle everything on his or her own) allows a defendant a much better chance of favorably resolving these types of issues.

In addition to denying one’s Constitutional right to bear arms, the confiscation of one’s firearms draws the implication that, in an intimate partner abuse situation, the accused is actually considered guilty until proven innocent – the complete opposite of the very foundation on which our criminal justice system was built! This is just one of the many reasons why it is imperative that a defendant hire a qualified criminal defense lawyer immediately after being arrested on a domestic violence charge.

After the defendant’s firearms have been seized or surrendered, it may be possible to get them back if he or she is subsequently found innocent of the charges or if any protective orders have been removed. The defendant’s attorney can help file an application with the Department of Justice to retrieve the firearms as quickly as possible. It should be noted that knowingly omitting required information or furnishing false information in connection with the application is a separate crime, punishable as a misdemeanor.

There is no reason to go at it alone! The experienced and knowledgeable attorneys at The Kavinoky Law Firm have helped countless individuals successfully defend California domestic violence charges as well as the additional restrictions that usually accompany those charges. Click here for a free consultation and for the best representation.

Recanting Victims and the Violation of a Protective Order

Recanting victims aren’t uncommon in cases of violation of a protective order and other California domestic violence offenses that apply to intimate partners. The term “intimate partners” applies to every type of couple – they may be straight or gay and can be married, divorced, living together, have children in common, or be dating currently or have dated in the past.

Protective orders are issued by courts in California domestic abuse cases to prohibit an offender from engaging in specific acts of abuse, re-entering his or her own home or even behaving in a specified way. A violation of protective order charge is a misdemeanor punishable by a maximum of one year in jail and a $1,000 fine. If the violation results in physical injury to the alleged victim, the offender will serve mandatory jail time of at least 30 days and the fine may rise to $2,000. California courts may even punish an offender for violating an order in California that was issued in another state.

A violation of a protective order charge can be filed against an individual even if the prosecution has no physical evidence, which means it would be easy for an alleged “victim” (the protected party) to charge his or her partner with this crime with little or no evidence. Many times an individual will do this out of revenge, anger, or another motive and may later decide to tell the truth. However, once the police are involved, it is too late to take the allegation back, as only the prosecutor and/or judge can decide to drop the charges. When these are the facts, it is imperative for the accused to hire a skilled criminal defense lawyer from The Kavinoky Law Firm.

If the protected party chooses of his or her own free will that calling the police was a mistake for any reason, it is best for both partners to speak with an attorney to devise a strategy. Many times the accuser thinks that “recanting” (which means to take back or deny) the original story or not cooperating with the police or prosecution will help the defendant. Unfortunately, that is incorrect. In fact, in an intimate partner abuse case, the prosecution expects an alleged victim to recant and knows how to proceed under these circumstances. A genuine recanting victim can be extremely harmful to the defendant if not first guided by an attorney.

When the protected party recants, two major issues arise. The first is that evidence that may otherwise have been inadmissible during the trial will be admissible, and the second issue is that a “recanting victim” gives the prosecution a great argument against the defendant. Beginning with the first issue, when the protected party recants his or her story, the prosecution plays for the jury a recording of the call that he or she placed to the police. The prosecutor will also admit into evidence any statements that the protected party made to the police during the initial investigation. Because these statements were made in the heat of the moment and possibly out of revenge or another motive, these statements can be devastating to the defense. Looking at the second issue, when the protected party recants, the prosecutor usually brings in an expert witness who testifies that the individual is recanting because he or she has either been threatened by the accused into doing so or that he or she is afraid of what further abuse might take place if he or she doesn’t recant. The expert will further explain that recanting is part of the domestic abuse “cycle of abuse” and that the protected party likely suffers from “battered person’s syndrome”.

When an intimate partner chooses to recant his or her allegation, a highly qualified defense attorney from The Kavinoky Law Firm can help both parties navigate through the system with knowledge and compassion. A skilled defense lawyer can outline an effective defense strategy during a free consultation.

The Definition of “Criminal Threats”

Criminal threats are one of the charges that can be brought in a California domestic violence case involving intimate partners. The term ‘intimate partners’ defines any type of couple – the individuals may be heterosexual or homosexual and can be married, divorced, living together, have children together, or currently or formerly dating.

Any individual who threatens, either by verbal, written or electronic communication, to commit a crime which will result in death or serious bodily injury against an intimate partner can be charged with making criminal threats. Whether or not the individual has any intent to actually carry out the threat is irrelevant if the partner is reasonably in fear for his or her own safety or for the safety of his or her family. This charge may be prosecuted as either a misdemeanor or a felony, punishable by up to one year in the county jail or state prison.

Every crime has specific elements or facts that the prosecutor must prove beyond a reasonable doubt in order to obtain a conviction against the defendant. Each element of the charge must be independently proved or else the jury must vote “Not Guilty.” That means that if just one element doesn’t hold true, the jury cannot return a conviction. An experienced domestic abuse attorney will aggressively defend the accused partner’s rights by individually attacking each element to sow reasonable doubt in the minds of the jurors.

Criminal threats consists of five elements that must be proved before the accused can be convicted. The first element is that the defendant willfully threatened to commit a crime, which if committed, would result in death or great bodily injury to his or her intimate partner. “Great bodily injury” means a substantial or significant injury.

The second element is that the accused intended his or her statement to be taken as a threat. This means that if the defendant was only joking or attempting to be funny and didn’t intend for the partner to take him or her seriously, he or she shouldn’t be convicted of this crime.

The third element is that the threat was communicated verbally, in writing or through an electronic communication device. Examples of electronic communication devices are computers, pagers, fax machines and videos. The gist of this element is that the threat simply has to be conveyed to the intimate partner through some means – even a third party can communicate the threat to the defendant’s intimate partner.

The fourth element is that the threat, on its face and under the circumstances, must be so clear, unconditional, immediate and specific so as to convey to the defendant’s partner that the threat could be immediately executed. It is important to note that even if the accused didn’t actually intend to carry out the threat, he or she can still be charged with this crime, as that fact will not negate his or her culpability.

The final element is that the intimate partner must reasonably fear for his or her safety or for the safety of his or her family. This means that a reasonable person would have to fear for his or her life if placed in a similar situation. This element is designed to weed out any frivolous charges.

To best avoid the consequences that may be imposed with a criminal threats conviction, it is imperative that the accused hires an experienced criminal defense lawyer who knows the most effective ways to refute elements of this crime. The skilled attorneys at The Kavinoky Law Firm receive extensive ongoing training in intimate partner abuse and on the many issues that frequently arise in these types of cases. An experienced defense lawyer can answer any questions about a California criminal threats prosecution during a free consultation.

If you’ve been convicted of a criminal offense, you have a criminal record. In the past, only those with authorization could view your criminal record, but times have changed. Technology has blurred the gap between public and private, and background checks are becoming more and more common. Unfortunately, almost anyone can access your criminal record.

Because it’s now extraordinarily easy to access your criminal record, expungement or another form of post-conviction relief is critically important. Expungement works like cleaning up a credit report. A successful expungement means that the conviction is removed from the record. The knowledgeable expungement lawyers of The Kavinoky Law Firm can evaluate your California criminal conviction to determine whether post-conviction relief may be an option.

Expunging a criminal record in California once required that you simply fulfill the terms of your sentence and probation and petition the court to allow expungement of your conviction. However, a new California law effective Jan. 1, 2008 now requires that you have a formal court hearing so that the judge can consider your expungement petition. The judge now has the discretion to decide whether expunging your record serves the interests of justice.

To facilitate a successful expungement hearing, you may have to call witnesses, file declarations, provide the court with information about you and your particular circumstances, and convince the judge why your good conduct and reform justify expunging the conviction.

It’s still entirely possible to expunge your California criminal conviction, and the benefits of doing so are significant. Essentially, the judge dismisses your case after the fact, even if you originally pled guilty. In these cases, the guilty plea is withdrawn and the case is dismissed. On your criminal record, expunged offenses are listed as “dismissed.”

While expungement offers the most relief, it is not an eraser, and relief from disclosure is limited. Also, expungement is not available in all cases. While it is possible to expunge some felonies, expungement is generally limited to misdemeanor offenses, where the probationary period has ended. However, an experienced criminal defense attorney can assist with getting probation terminated early.

Common situations where expungement is usually granted include driving under the influence, drug possession, reckless driving, and other misdemeanor offenses. Most employers are prohibited from asking about both arrests that did not result in convictions, and expunged offenses. However, there are limits on expungement relief, including several situations that require mandatory disclosure of expunged offenses.

Still, the benefits of expungement far outweigh the limitations. While expungement is most commonly considered for purposes of future employment, the psychological benefits should not be overlooked. Knowing that a prior criminal conviction is out there can be unnerving. While hiring a good criminal defense attorney to help resolve matters initially is always encouraged, there’s no reason to suffer needlessly from a prior conviction. Help is available. In some cases where expungement isn’t an option, alternatives such as a Certificate of Rehabilitation or a pardon may be available.

For a free-of-charge preliminary evaluation on whether your offense can be expunged, please contact a skilled criminal defense attorney at The Kavinoky Law Firm. We have offices throughout California and are extremely experienced in expungement and post-conviction relief.

Infliction of Injury Trial Considerations

Infliction of injury or spousal abuse is one charge that can be filed in a California domestic violence case involving intimate partners. The term “intimate partners” is a broad one that includes heterosexual or homosexual couples, married or divorced, living together or were formerly living together, or have children in common.

Anyone who willfully inflicts any injury, no matter how minor, upon the body of an intimate partner can be charged with a felony, punishable by up to four years in prison and a fine of up to $6,000. In some cases, this charge is brought against individuals who barely touched their intimate partners.

In an intimate partner abuse case, there are several evidentiary issues that frequently surface. Because the consequences of a domestic violence conviction are so severe, it is imperative that the defendant hires a criminal defense lawyer who is kept up-to-date on the latest applicable case law and cutting-edge trial strategies. The attorneys at The Kavinoky Law Firm have experience dealing with every aspect of a California domestic abuse case and receive ongoing training to make sure that they maintain their reputation for being the best. They not only know the intricacies behind each and every evidentiary issue that may arise, but they know how to successfully use each to their client’s advantage.

The following are some of the issues that are likely to arise in an infliction of injury case:

• Battered Person’s Syndrome also referred to as battered women’s syndrome, is a psychological condition applied to a partner who has been consistently, severely victimized by his or her partner. Although it is often used to describe women, battered person’s syndrome can involve people of either gender involved in heterosexual or same-sex relationships.
• Physical evidence can be a major factor in infliction of injury cases. Photographs or medical records showing actual injury are used by the prosecution if and when they exist. A skilled defense attorney will argue forcefully that any physical evidence in a domestic abuse case should be excluded.
• DNA evidence is being used more and more in intimate partner violence cases throughout the country, both to convict the guilty and to exonerate those wrongly accused or convicted.
• Recanting victims are extraordinarily common in infliction of injury cases and other domestic violence prosecutions. There are many reasons why an accuser might change his or her story during a trial. This occurs so frequently that prosecutors have tactics to proceed despite the accuser’s change of heart. However, a skilled defense attorney can use a recanting victim to the accused individual’s advantage.
• Eyewitness accounts often make or break an infliction of injury domestic abuse case. Both sides can subpoena witnesses who were present during the altercation that led to the charge. An experienced lawyer will work with defense witnesses to ensure that they present their testimony in a light most favorable to the accused. A good attorney will also effectively cross-examine prosecution witnesses to highlight discrepancies in their accounts.

The prosecution will likely try to introduce hearsay and 911 calls into evidence. Although this type of evidence is typically excluded in most criminal cases, hearsay and 911 calls are sometimes allowed into evidence in domestic violence cases. This is yet another good reason why it is so critical to have an attorney experienced in California domestic violence law, as he or she knows how to effectively argue against the admission of this type of evidence.

Domestic violence law is technical and complex, so it’s imperative to have an attorney who is qualified, skilled and experienced in this area. In order to secure the best representation from a firm who has successfully defended countless domestic abuse cases, contact the unparalleled attorneys at The Kavinoky Law Firm for a free consultation.

Penalties Imposed with a Violation of a Protective Order Conviction

Violation of a protective order is a California domestic violence offense that can be brought against an intimate partner in a current or past relationship. The term “intimate partners” applies to couples who are married, divorced, living together, have children together, or who are currently or were formerly dating. These laws apply to both heterosexual and homosexual couples.

Courts often issue protective orders in California domestic violence cases that prohibit the offender from specific acts of abuse, re-entering his or her own home, or exhibiting certain behaviors. Any individual who intentionally violates a protective order can be charged with a misdemeanor punishable by a maximum of a one-year jail sentence and a $1,000 fine. If the violation results in physical injury to the alleged victim, the offender will serve mandatory jail time of at least 30 days and the fine may rise to $2,000. California courts may even punish an offender for violating an order in California that was issued in another state.

If aggravating factors – facts that surround the charged incident that elevate the seriousness of the offense – are present, the offender faces additional penalties. Similarly, a prior conviction for violating a protective order will likely invoke an even stiffer sentence.

If the defendant is placed on probation (which is usually the case), it will remain in effect for at least three years. There are certain mandatory terms of probation with respect to any California domestic abuse crime, and these include the booking process if the defendant wasn’t booked upon arrest, issuance of a more restrictive criminal protective order against the defendant, the offender’s participation in a batterer’s class, and an additional fine payable to specific domestic violence funds.

A conviction for violating a protective order may also bring professional licensing restrictions. Under California law, a licensing board may suspend or revoke a professional license if the license-holder has been convicted of a crime, if the crime is substantially related to the qualifications, functions, or duties of the business or profession for which the license was issued. This means that a conviction could potentially end an individual’s career, which is another reason why it is so important to have a competent attorney who is familiar with California law and can argue against such a restriction.

Finally, an individual may not only be charged criminally for violating a protective order, but may be sued in civil court for the violation as well. In a civil court, a person who is found liable for committing this wrong is subject to additional heavy fines and a more restrictive civil protective order but cannot be sentenced to jail or prison.

With such devastating consequences, it is imperative that an individual who has been arrested for violating a protective order immediately hires a qualified criminal defense lawyer who is familiar with all of the defenses that apply to this crime. The attorneys from The Kavinoky Law Firm have successfully defended countless individuals who were facing intimate partner abuse and protective order violation charges. They can answer any questions about a California domestic violence charge during a free consultation.

Recanting Victims and Sexual Battery Case

Sexual battery is a California domestic violence crime that applies to intimate partners. Intimate partners may be heterosexual or homosexual and married, divorced, living together, have children in common, dating or formerly dating. If a person touches an intimate part of his or her intimate partner against that person’s will for the purpose of sexual arousal, sexual gratification or sexual abuse, he or she may be charged with sexual battery.

“Touching” can consist of any physical contact, however minor, whether it occurs directly, through the clothing of the accused, or through the clothing of the accuser. Sexual battery can be charged even against a partner involved in an ongoing, intimate relationship. Depending on the circumstances, the crime can be charged as a misdemeanor or a felony with penalties of up to one-year in jail or up to four years in prison and fines of up to $10,000.

A sexual battery charge can be filed against an individual even if he or she caused no injury to the victim, making it easy for an alleged “victim” to charge his or her partner with this crime with little or no evidence. Many times an individual will do this out of revenge, anger, or jealousy. He or she may later decide to tell the truth, but once the police are involved, it is too late to take the allegation back, as only the prosecutor and/or judge can decide to drop the charges at that point. When this type of situation arises, it is imperative for the accused to hire a skilled criminal defense lawyer from the Kavinoky Law Firm.

If the accuser chooses of his or her own free will that calling the police was a mistake for any reason, it is best for both partners to speak with an attorney who will help decide the best course of action. Many times the victim thinks that “recanting” (which means to take back or deny) the original story or not cooperating with the police or prosecution will help the defendant. Unfortunately, that is incorrect. In fact, in an intimate partner abuse case, the prosecution usually expects that a victim will recant and knows exactly how to proceed under this type of situation. A genuine recanting victim can be extremely harmful to the defendant if not first guided by an attorney.

When a victim recants, there are two major issues that arise. The first is that evidence that may otherwise have been inadmissible during the trial will now likely be admissible, and the second issue is that a “recanting victim” gives the prosecution a great argument against the defendant. Beginning with the first issue, when a victim recants his or her story, the prosecution plays for the jury a recording of the call that the victim placed to the police. The prosecutor will also admit into evidence any statements that the victim made to the police during the initial investigation. Because these statements were made in the heat of the moment and possibly out of revenge or stemming from some other motive, these statements can be devastating to the defense. Looking at the second issue, when a victim recants, the prosecutor usually brings in an expert witness who testifies that the victim is recanting because he or she has either been threatened by the “abuser” into doing so or that he or she is afraid of what further abuse might take place if he or she doesn’t recant. The expert will further explain that recanting is part of the “cycle of abuse” and that the victim likely suffers from “battered person’s syndrome.”

When an intimate partner chooses to recant his or her allegation, a highly qualified defense attorney from the Kavinoky Law Firm can help both parties navigate through the system with knowledge and compassion. The attorney will help develop the most effective defense strategy to successfully put an end to a terrible situation that simply spiraled out of control.

In California, when an individual threatens and willfully follows or harasses his or her intimate partner with the intent of placing that partner in fear, he or she will likely be charged with stalking as a domestic violence crime. Domestic violence crimes, in California, apply to all crimes that are committed against one’s intimate partner. Intimate partners are both heterosexual and homosexual persons who are married, divorced, living together, have children together, dating or formerly dating. While the crime of stalking isn’t necessarily a domestic abuse crime, if committed against an intimate partner, it will be prosecuted as such, subjecting the accused to a variety of severe penalties, including up to one year in county jail and/or up to a $1,000 fine or up to one year in state prison, depending on whether the crime was charged as a misdemeanor or as a felony and up to five years in prison if there were either aggravating circumstances that surrounded the alleged incidents or if the defendant has prior convictions for stalking or other specific offenses.

One of the ways that a defendant may be cleared from a D.V. stalking charge or convicted of a DV stalking charge is through DNA evidence. DNA evidence is playing a larger role than ever before throughout this country in acquitting and convicting persons charged with a crime. This is because scientists have developed ways of extracting DNA from sources that used to be too difficult or too contaminated to use.

DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) is a type of scientific, physical evidence that, if and when it exists, can have a tremendous impact on the outcome of an intimate partner violence stalking case. An individual’s DNA includes information about everything from his or her eye color to any genetic defects. It is found in virtually every cell in a person’s body and is commonly retrieved from one’s blood, bone, hair, saliva or skin tissue. An individual’s DNA is particular to that person and remains constant throughout his or her life. The reason that this type of evidence is so conclusive is because, with the exception of identical twins, no two people share the same DNA. As a result, if someone’s DNA can be collected from a crime scene or from some other evidence that is linked to a crime, it may exclude a person from having been at the scene or from having participated in a crime, or it may directly link an accused to the crime.

DNA evidence is only going to be used more frequently in criminal trials as time goes on, which is why is it so important to have a criminal defense lawyer who understands the science involved in this type of evidence and who has experience defending against it. The skilled attorneys at the Kavinoky Law Firm receive ongoing education and training in intimate partner abuse cases and on the many different evidentiary issues, such as DNA evidence, that commonly arise in these types of cases. They have a great deal of experience defending individuals against stalking charges and have the knowledge and resources to make sure that the most comprehensive defense possible is devised for each individual’s case. To speak to one of our lawyers today, please click here for a free consultation.

Types of Abuse that Can Lead to Domestic Violence Charges in California

In California, domestic violence laws apply to all crimes that are committed against one’s intimate partner (that is, a spouse, former spouse, significant other, former significant other, the person with whom one lives or lived and the person with whom one has children), one’s child, parent or anyone else related by blood or marriage within the second degree. Domestic abuse is a general phrase that encompasses many different types of abuse, some that are easy to identify and prove and others that are not.

Physical abuse is perhaps the most commonly identified and most reported type of domestic abuse and can range from restraint to murder. Physical abuse occurs when an individual intentionally uses force upon another, attempting to cause pain, harm and/or injury. Types of physical abuse include, but are not limited to, sexual abuse, slapping, hitting, punching, pushing, shaking, restraining, biting, choking and assault with a weapon.

Emotional abuse, also known as verbal abuse or psychological abuse is thought to be widely underreported because of the fact that it is difficult to prove and is usually committed in conjunction with other forms of abuse. Although it would seem that physical abuse would be more painful, the effects of emotional abuse are considered to be far more devastating. Emotional abuse occurs when an individual threatens or intimidates another in an effort to gain control over that person, shames, mocks or criticizes another person (regardless of whether others are around at the time), isolates another person, destroys pets or property in front of another person in an effort to instill fear in that individual and when an offender blames the victim for the offender’s violent actions.

Financial abuse, or economic dependence, occurs when an individual either prevents access to or withholds money, checks or credit cards from another, steals from another (for example, a child who steals from a parent or a partner who steals from his or her partner or exploits that partner for his or her own financial gain) or withholds necessities from another such as food, shelter, medicine or clothes. Financial abuse often goes hand-in-hand with emotional abuse and can cause a victim to feel absolutely hopeless.

The effects of domestic violence are serious and can last forever. Victims of D.V. often exhibit depression, anxiety or fear, low self-esteem, anger, withdrawal, a difficulty in forming relationships with others, eating disorders and other health problems and may develop drug, alcohol and/or other destructive, addictive behaviors. The effects on children (whether they are directly abused or witness the abuse that takes place in their home) are even more extreme. In addition to the above behaviors, children will often act out by committing crimes and acting violent towards others, may attempt suicide and are more likely to grow up to be adult abusers.

The outstanding attorneys at The Kavinoky Law Firm specialize in California crimes of domestic violence and can help defend against a charge of intimate partner abuse, child abuse or elder abuse. These trustworthy attorneys can also provide referrals for counseling and other types of services for abusers who want help and for the victims that they have hurt. Because of the devastating effects that abuse can have on one’s family, an offender faces severe consequences if convicted of a Domestic Violence-related crime. One’s family and freedom are too important to trust to an inexperienced attorney. Contact the attorneys at The Kavinoky Law Firm today for a free consultation.