Consequences of Domestic Violence: How a Conviction Impacts Someone

There are consequences of domestic violence.

Did you know that every 3 seconds a person is physically abused by a significant other in the United States? This amounts to over 10 million domestic violence occurrences in just one year. Abusers believe their intimidation towards the victim is often enough that they can avoid the police being called. However, if a person fears for their life they should always call the police.

Domestic violence isn’t just abuse from or with an intimate partner.  It includes anyone living under the same roof, including parents, children, and even roommates.

Time In Jail

If the police receive a call for domestic violence, the abuser will have to spend at least 48 hours in jail before they can even start the process to post bond. If the domestic violence case results in a guilty sentence, the abuser will pick up jail time. The minimum jail sentence is 5 days.  Depending on the severity of the violence, they can be sentenced to prison for over a year.

In 2005, 45% of abusers sent to prison received a sentence of two years or more. The differing imprisonment sentencing depends on whether the charge is a felony or misdemeanor.

If you are charged with shoving or pushing someone who lives with you this might just result in a misdemeanor. For a misdemeanor to take effect, a person must NOT be injured. If the abuser has a history of domestic violence or the victim suffers from serious bodily harm there is a higher chance it will be charged as a felony.

Probation/Fines

The abuser will be placed on probation once they are released from either jail or prison.

Probation terms vary depending on the domestic charges but the abuser will be confined to a living space for a set amount of time. A curfew will be set if they have a job or are required to engage in community service.

If that doesn’t seem too tough, there could also be a hefty fine required to be paid. The spectrum can range from a few hundred to thousands of dollars. The average fine is around two thousand dollars.

Counseling, such as anger management may also be required. This cost will come out of pocket in addition to the fine, along with the time out of your day.

More Consequences of Domestic Violence: You Can Lose Your Job

A domestic violence conviction can result in jail time, probation, and fines. But they may also lose their job due to being incarcerated. It will also affect any future job search as it could be difficult to find a job with a criminal record now connected to your name.

You might have to start from the bottom to be considered for any job and it will be hard to pay for your general cost of living and your fines with an entry-level job.

The residual impact of domestic violence is very serious and it WILL have negative repercussions for the rest of your life.

If you need to make a bond or need legal advice, contact us today.

We hope this helped you understand some of the consequences of domestic violence.