If you have been accused of an incident of domestic violence, it is natural to feel overwhelmed and at a loss for what to do or where to turn as you discover the potential ramifications for such actions, especially when you feel the allegations are embellished or completely unjustified. Under New York State law, the term domestic violence is not a definition for a crime. Instead, this term is used to describe a range of specific acts, or a variety of crimes, that are considered forms of domestic violence. This can make understanding the charges you may be faced with more confusing, as there are many different types of domestic violence crimes and they are all handled differently, depending on their context.
Examples of Domestic Violence Crimes
To give you a clearer picture of what the law considers a domestic violence crime, here are some examples of acts that can lead to domestic violence charges:
- Stalking, harassment, or menacing – Following, monitoring, or tracking an intimate partner, repeatedly doing something that causes them continual distress, or threatening them in some way with or without a weapon are forms of stalking, harassment, or menacing crimes.
- Assault or reckless endangerment – Directly hitting, kicking, punching or using a weapon against someone is considered assault. This crime includes throwing objects at someone to cause them injury and harm. Any action that you take to deliberately put a person in a position that causes them physical injury is considered reckless endangerment.
- Intimidation and threats – Whether you force someone into doing something or keep them from doing something, any words or actions that scare someone enough to control their decisions constitute a domestic violence crime.
- Mischief – Destroying or taking property, even when it is shared property, is considered criminal mischief. Whether you take your partner’s car keys, destroy their computer, or slash their tires, these kinds of acts are punishable by law.
Other kinds of criminal acts you could face charges for include any kind of unwanted sexual conduct (sexual abuse), choking, strangling, or disorderly conduct, such as drunken arguments that result in loud yelling and commotion. If you are not only disturbing your household, but your neighbors, too, this can trigger serious consequences once the authorities get involved.
Speak with a Manhattan Domestic Violence Defense Lawyer
Whatever the circumstances surrounding your case, being able to competently defend yourself and your rights is the first step toward facing what could be life-altering charges. If the police show up on the scene, your best course of action is to cooperate, comply with their direction and requests, and reach out to a knowledgeable, qualified Manhattan domestic violence defense attorney, who can arm you with the resources you need to protect yourself in a court of law. Call 1-833-JOEYJACKSON or 1-833-563-9522 today to schedule a personal case evaluation.
Sources:
https://www.nycourts.gov/CourtHelp/Safety/DVacts.shtml
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/PEN