Domestic Violence Lawyer
Montreal Domestic Violence Lawyer
Montreal domestic violence lawyer Steven Slimovitch achieves positive results for his clients facing domestic violence charges by employing a number of effective strategies that often result in the charges being withdrawn by the prosecution or dismissed in court by the judge.
When is it time to call a Domestic Violence Lawyer?
Domestic violence often arises in an unexpected, heated, and often emotionally charged, dispute. A conviction for domestic violence carries serious employment, travel, immigration, and relationship consequences. When confronted with allegations of domestic violence, hiring experienced a persuasive domestic violence lawyer for legal counsel is vital to a successful defence outcome.
How is Domestic Violence Defined?
A person need not harm someone for domestic violence to occur. A person may commit domestic violence although that person exerts no degree of strength or power when touching the victim. Yet in order to be convicted the force must always be offensive or an affront to an individual’s dignity. For example, a simple push or pinch in some cases may be sufficient to establish a domestic violence.
Being arrested for the first time
Most people arrested for domestic violence are being arrested for the first time. So it can be quite a shock to be booked into custody, spend an uncomfortable night in cells, and then get released the following day on the conditions that you move out of your house and have no contact with your wife or girlfriend and sometimes even your own children.
If the couple is planning on staying together, these cases have to be handled delicately and diplomatically so that going through the legal process does not further damage the relationship. Often the first step in these cases is to try and change the terms of release to permit your return to the family home. There are a variety of options apart from going all the way to trial to resolve the case in a way that does not saddle you with a criminal record. These would include a diversion, a peace bond, or a discharge. The availability of these options varies depending on the handling of the case, the underlying facts, and the jurisdiction in which you are charged.
A traumatic and painful experience
Being charged with any type of assault allegation is a traumatic and painful experience. Those charged with domestic assault will face additional challenges due to the fact that the court system will try to prevent accused persons from contacting or residing with their loved ones while their cases slowly negotiate through the maze of the criminal justice system. Those found guilty of domestic related assaults also potentially face stiffer sentences.
Zero tolerance policy
Right from the start, the police, prosecutors, and the judges all apply a rigorous zero tolerance policy to domestic assault cases, regardless of whether or not the complainant wishes to see the charges prosecuted in court.
One of the best ways to ensure that you do not end up as a casualty of these zero tolerance policies is to hire a criminal lawyer familiar with defending domestic assault cases.
Mr. Slimovitch often works alongside family law lawyers who are experienced with high conflict divorces where special expertise is required to fend off false or misleading allegations, and then we are able to work with family law counsel to develop a comprehensive approach to protecting and thus defending our clients. Any criminal charge changes someone’s life in a profound way and causes extreme stress and emotional harm. We understand this and we work with our clients to provide not just strong defences to criminal charges but also to help provide a support system for our clients to help them through some of the most traumatic times in their lives.
Consequences of a Domestic Violence Conviction
The consequences of being found guilty of domestic violence are significant. Upon a finding of guilt, one may receive a criminal record and be sentenced to a period of incarceration. Generally, the greater the harm suffered by the victim, the harsher the penalty.
What Steven Slimovitch Can Offer You
When you or someone you know has been charged with domestic violence, it is important to retain the services of an experienced criminal defence lawyer as soon as possible. Steven Slimovitch is a highly skilled and experienced criminal defence lawyer with a very impressive track record in this area. He has defended countless people accused of domestic violence and has successfully supported them throughout the legal process and enabled them to get their lives back on track.
