Being charged with domestic violence in Connecticut is not a small matter. Domestic violence charges can have lifelong consequences for anyone convicted. You could be removed from your home and ordered by a court to stay away from your children, even before you’ve been convicted of a crime. Family violence charges carry significant penalties in Connecticut, including jail time and heavy fines. The sooner you reach out to an aggressive criminal defense attorney, the better. 

Fighting for Those Accused of Domestic Violence in Connecticut

The criminal defense attorneys at The Kaloidis Law Firm, LLC know how to aggressively defend domestic violence cases. We know how to deal with the prosecution and fight for our clients’ rights. We have a proven track record of successfully representing clients who’ve been charged with domestic violence. We will fight for you throughout the entire process.

Domestic Violence Charges in Connecticut

There is not a specific crime called domestic violence in Connecticut. Instead, any number of crimes can be designated domestic violence if the alleged crime involves physical aggression or threatened physical aggression against a member of your household, someone you have a dating relationship with or a family member. In that case, you can be arrested for family violence. Typical domestic violence charges in Connecticut include the following:

Prosecutors can bring domestic violence charges against a person who has allegedly committed a crime against his or her:

Suppose you’ve been charged with a crime that has been categorized as a family violence charge. In that case, it will trigger a specific pre-trial process designed to protect accusers of domestic violence. You will need to act immediately to protect yourself and your rights. You can have your firearms taken away, your home, and denied access to your children. We recommend speaking to an attorney immediately and certainly before you engage in a custodial interview with law enforcement. Even if they are acting like they are on your side. An attorney can help you begin preparing your defense quickly.

You May Need an Attorney Immediately for Your Next-Day Arraignment

If you have been charged with domestic violence in Connecticut, you must appear in court the next day for an arraignment at which time a protective order will be issued. Protective orders are commonly referred to as restraining orders. The court will require you to meet with a family services officer at your initial arraignment. You will be asked to make statements about the alleged incident that led to your being charged with domestic violence. It is essential that you remember that anything you say can be used against you at trial. We always advise not to speak to anyone without us present. Having an aggressive attorney on your side can help you ensure you do not unintentionally incriminate yourself.

Connecticut’s Mandatory Arrest Statute

Connecticut also has a mandatory arrest statute in domestic violence cases. When police officers respond to a domestic violence investigation, they are required to make an arrest if they discover enough probable cause that any crime has taken place. They are required to do so regardless of the position of the accuser. Even if the accuser has calmed down by the time law enforcement arrives and wants to drop the charges against the alleged perpetrator, the state must continue to prosecute the case. Generally, police officers will arrest everyone involved in the dispute. Many police officers have continued to make dual arrests in domestic violence cases even though the state legislature recently passed a dominant aggressor statute.

According to the dominant aggressor statute, police should conduct a cursory investigation at the alleged crime scene. They must arrest the primary dominant aggressor only, not the person they suspect to be the victim. Unfortunately, this does not always happen, especially when the alleged victim makes false accusations. As a result, innocent victims can be arrested as the primary aggressor even though they did not commit a crime. We help those wrongly accused of crimes.

Defenses to Domestic Violence Charges

One of the best ways to fight a domestic violence charge in Connecticut is to begin working with an attorney who is experienced and has a proven track record of success. An attorney can collect evidence as quickly as possible. In many domestic violence cases, both parties assert two different versions of what happened, so you will want to ensure you have evidence to prove that your version is the closest version to what actually happened. Your attorney can help gather this evidence and negotiate with the prosecution to reach the best possible result.

Protective Order

The issuance of a protective order can have serious and lasting consequences for you. You can be removed from your home, prevented from contacting your spouse or children and have your firearms taken away. Judges and Prosecutors use protective orders to punish defendants. These orders can have lasting detrimental effects to your family. Let us fight wrongly issued protective orders.

Discuss Your Case with an Aggressive Criminal Defense Attorney

If you or your loved one has been charged with domestic violence in Connecticut, contact The Kaloidis Law Firm, LLC today to schedule your initial case evaluation.