In this section, our attorneys explain Nevada’s criminal laws and legal concepts, A to Z
Criminal Law A to Z
In this section, our attorneys explain Nevada’s criminal laws and legal concepts, A to Z
Crimes by NRS Section
Every crime in Nevada is based in a section of the Nevada Revised Statutes (NRS). For each crime, our attorneys explain the laws, penalties and best defenses to fight the charge.
Nevada DUI
Getting arrested for DUI does not mean you will be convicted. Police misconduct, defective breathalyzers and crime lab mistakes may be enough to get your charges lessened or dismissed. Visit our page on Nevada DUI Laws to learn more.
Post-Conviction
Even if you’ve already been convicted of a crime, there is still much you can do to seal your record and restore your rights. Our attorneys explain how.
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Battery domestic violence is set out in NRS 33.018 and NRS 200.48. It is defined as willfully and unlawfully committing an act of force or violence upon:
If you have been charged with domestic violence, it is important to seek legal guidance. You could be entitled to serious, life-changing consequences. If convicted, these penalties affect a person’s personal and professional relationships, employment and housing.
Penalties Are Significant
The punishments for a domestic violence charge in Nevada are significant. This means that if within the seven years you are charged, the first time and second time it is a misdemeanor. The third charge constitutes a felony. The penalties include:
Note that penalties can be worse if the victim is a child or elderly (age 60 or older).
Defenses
There are several viable defenses to this crime. These include self-defense, battered women’s syndrome, false allegations, self-inflicted injuries, or an accident. It is important to ensure that if you have been charged, you have a lawyer working on your behalf to ensure that you receive the best possible defense.
Limited Dismissal Rights
Nevada law is unusual in how the prosecutor handles these cases. The prosecution is prohibited from dismissing the charge of guilty, not guilty by mental illness or no contest. This means that plea bargains are limited, and only available if the prosecutor claims that he does not have sufficient evidence to prove that the crime was committed beyond a reasonable doubt.
Arrest is Mandatory
Law enforcement is required to arrest a domestic violence suspect.
Protective Orders
If the court believes that the domestic violence did occur, the court may issue a protective order against the suspect. It is important to note that this order will be granted with no notice to the defendant. This is important because these orders can prevent the defendant from entering the family home, or seeing certain family members, such as their children.
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.