All criminal cases filed in Texas courts are serious legal matters. However, this is especially true when a resident of Rockwall County or other parts of the eastern Dallas area faces an assault charge or other charge related to family violence.
Someone who has never been involved in the criminal justice system but finds themselves facing a charge after a physical altercation with a spouse or family member may be tempted to get the matter resolved as soon as possible.
A prosecutor may offer a good deal that does not involve jail. Moreover, a first-time assault charge is ordinarily a misdemeanor offense, according to information about Texas domestic violence laws posted by a major police department in this state.
However, Rockwall residents should hesitate before jumping at what seems like a good deal. Charges related to domestic violence can haunt a person long after their court date, even if the criminal penalty itself was minimal.
- Family courts hearing custody cases will consider a parent’s history of domestic violence, including convictions, when making decisions. A parent with a conviction could find themselves subject to supervised visits and other burdensome restrictions, and they may have little say in their minor children’s lives.
- A conviction could leave a person subject to a protective order requiring them to stay away from the victim, even if that means moving out of their home and otherwise changing their basic routine. Not following a protective order can lead to additional criminal charges.
- Under federal law, people convicted of charges related to domestic violence may not own or possess firearms.
- Non-citizens may have their immigration status revoked, and face deportation, over a single conviction related to domestic violence.
- Employers, post-secondary institutions, volunteer organizations, licensing authorities and others take convictions related to domestic violence very seriously. A person could find that one conviction severely limits professional and personal opportunities they otherwise would pursue.
A person accused of a crime related to domestic violence should know their rights
A person accused of charges related to domestic violence has the same rights as another criminal defendant. They need to know and understand these rights to protect themselves. They also should evaluate all their options carefully before agreeing to plead guilty.
