Every crime in California is defined by a specific code section. Our attorneys explain the law, penalties and best defense strategies for every major crime in California.
Crimes by Code
Every crime in California is defined by a specific code section. Our attorneys explain the law, penalties and best defense strategies for every major crime in California.
California DUI
DUI arrests don't always lead to convictions in court. Police officer mistakes, faulty breathalyzers and crime lab errors may get your charges reduced or dismissed. Visit our California DUI page to learn more.
Post Conviction
A criminal record can affect job, immigration, licensing and even housing opportunities. In this section, we offer solutions for clearing up your prior record.
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There are several legal defenses that you can raise to beat, or reduce, a charge of domestic violence. Some of these include:
An experienced domestic violence attorney can sometimes negotiate a plea bargain to a lesser offense. Pleading guilty to a lesser offense can help you avoid the stigma and negative consequences of a domestic violence conviction.
Two of the most common lesser offenses you may be able to plead to are:
Advantages of pleading to one of these crimes can include:
Another legal strategy often pursued by a domestic violence attorney is to try to get a pre-trial diversion program for you.
With pretrial diversion, if you successfully complete a batterers’ program, the charges will be dismissed and cease to exist for most purposes.
Eligibility for pretrial diversion depends on:
In general, “domestic violence” is abuse committed against an intimate partner. You commit “abuse” when you intentionally or recklessly use, or threaten the use of, physical force against an intimate partner.
Domestic violence laws typically define an “intimate partner” as:
In addition to intimate partners, victims of domestic violence can include your child.
Victims may also include any other person related to you by consanguinity (blood) or affinity (marriage) within the second degree, including:
And in some states, domestic violence laws extend to roommates or housemates.4
Common crimes of “domestic violence” include:
While some of these offenses are misdemeanors, others are felonies.5
Consequences of a domestic violence conviction can include some or all of the following:
A former Los Angeles prosecutor, attorney Neil Shouse graduated with honors from UC Berkeley and Harvard Law School (and completed additional graduate studies at MIT). He has been featured on CNN, Good Morning America, Dr Phil, The Today Show and Court TV. Mr Shouse has been recognized by the National Trial Lawyers as one of the Top 100 Criminal and Top 100 Civil Attorneys.