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Manhattan Domestic Violence Lawyers
Last Updated on: 23rd June 2025, 01:59 pm
The state of New York provides legal protections for anyone who may be the victim of Domestic Violence. The criminal courts in New York have concurrent jurisdiction with the family courts when it comes to Domestic Violence. This means it is possible for a person to bring criminal charges in the criminal court and at the same time bring civil charges in a family court. Both courts can be used by victims to obtain an order of protection.
Domestic Violence
This is known as battery, as well as physical assault, that is both intentional and willful. It could also be sexual assault or any other type of abusive behavior. This is behavior that follows a systematic pattern and is motivated by a desire to have control and power over an intimate partner. This can also apply to emotional abuse as well as psychological violence. The seriousness and frequency of Domestic Violence can be very different from one situation to another. The one thing that is always the same is one partner’s regular efforts to control and have power over the other.
Relationships
In the state of New York, there are certain criteria a relationship must meet before an incident is classified as domestic violence. It could be two people who are related to one another by marriage or blood. It could be two people who are currently involved or have been involved in an intimate relationship. It does not matter if these people have ever lived in the same residence. Current and former spouses. It also applies to individuals who are co-parents of a child. This situation does not require the parents to have ever been united in a legal marriage or have shared a residence.
Penalties
New York provides a number of different penalties when people are found guilty of Domestic Violence. Should an individual be found guilty of violent a felony such as first-degree assault, they could be sentenced up to 25 years in jail. They could be fined up to $5,000. In the state of New York, first degree-strangulation is also a violent felony offense. If a person is found guilty of this offense, they could spend up to 15 years in prison or given a fine of up to $5,000. If someone is found guilty of criminal obstruction of breathing, third-degree assault as well as second-degree menacing it is a class A misdemeanor. Punishment for these offenses includes less than twelve months in jail or a fine of $1,000.
Order Of Protection
When a person is charged with Domestic Violence, a court can issue an order of protection. An order of protection can be issued during a family court proceeding, even if the offender hasn’t been arrested. A victim will be asked questions by a judge. If the judge determines a situation needs one, an order of protection will be issued. This order will require a defendant to stay away from the home, workplace, school of the victim and witness. It could require a defendant to permit designated individual to enter their home and remove specific belongings. It will make a defendant prohibited from committing criminal acts against family members and more.
Legal Help
An attorney can help get a protection order in place for a victim of Domestic Violence. They can file a Domestic Violence lawsuit. This enables a victim to get compensation for medical expenses, financial loss as well as pain and suffering. They are able to help victims file for divorce if necessary. It is also possible for an attorney to help a victim get custody of children as well as the necessary amount of child support from the other parent and more.
False Accusations
An attorney could also help someone who has been falsely accused of Domestic Violence. They will know how to gather the facts of a case and properly present them in court. It could be a case of self-defense, a result of mental disease and defect as well as an alleged victim making provable false claims and more.
Being convicted of a domestic violence offense in Manhattan is rather serious. You need a professional and experienced criminal defense lawyer working on your behalf to help minimize the damage that is done to your reputation and your future livelihood. The consequences of such a conviction are far reaching. Do not trust just anyone with your defense. Make sure that you hire a qualified and capable Manhattan domestic violence offense sentencing lawyer.
Domestic Violence Explained
In the state of New York, the judicial system uses the term domestic violence to refer to any type of violent or threatening behavior perpetuated between people who are involve in any of a number of types of intimate relationships. These relationships can be between people who are blood relatives, married to one another (or divorced or separated), other parents of a child, or individuals who are dating. People can be accused of domestic violence for any of a number of reasons. The most common accusations leveled by the court are disorderly conduct, crimes of a sexual nature, harassing behavior, stalking, and more. Anyone who is convicted of one of these crimes could face sever penalties, including possible jail time.
Possible Punishments
Being convicted of domestic violence in Manhattan includes almost certain prison time. The reason you need a professional sentencing lawyer ini such an event is to help get as lenient a prison term as possible. Depending on the severity of the charge that you are convicted of, you might also be forced to pay fines, certain fees, restitution to the victim, and you might have to agree to some sort of supervision or probation upon your release. The actual sentence that you are given will fall within the general guidelines based upon the charge, but the judge is given some discretion in terms of the final outcome.
It is because of this discretion that you need a sentencing lawyer arguing on your behalf. A lawyer can point out certain mitigating factors that might work in your favor. If you have never been convicted of a crime in the past, for example, this may play in your favor. If you show remorse for your crime, this is something that can be pointed out at sentencing as well. You should also be aware that the opposite is true. If you have certain aggravating factors, such as a prior conviction for the same crime or you show no remorse, the judge may likely give you a sentence at the upper end of the maximum allowed.
Sentencing Classifications
In Manhattan, domestic violence charges can range from a Class B misdemeanor to a Class B felony. As you can imagine, the actual charge is important in determining the eventual sentence. This is yet another reason why you will want an experience criminal defense attorney right there at the table beside you when it comes to sentencing. A class B misdemeanor, for example, carries a maximum 3 month prison sentence. If you are convicted of a class B felony, you are looking at up to 25 years in prison. These are the most serious of felonies and include convictions for first degree assault, first degree rape, a criminal sexual act, or aggravated sexual abuse.
In addition, sentencing will likely involve probation. The terms of this probation can impact your livelihood upon release from prison so it is important to get favorable sentencing ini this regard. For a misdemeanor, you are looking a up to three years, and roughly five years for a felony. Sexually based offenses will generally carry twice the term of probation that you would otherwise receive.
Domestic violence implies violent acts involving couples or family members. Domestic violence is also called family violence and may involve crimes like child abuse, mistreatment of a spouse, stalking, and harassment. However, in most cases, it entails sexual assault. Read on to understand the classification of domestic violence, what sexual assault entails, and the consequences for the offense.
Forms of Domestic Violence
Physical abuse
This includes battering, hitting, slapping, biting, punching, or shoving. It involves any violent action against the victim.
Emotional Abuse
This involves invalidating a person’s self esteem.
Economic Abuse
This occurs when the oppressor deprives the victim of financial assistance, or makes them financially reliant on them.
Sexual Assault
This occurs when the oppressor forces or attempts to force the victim to engage in sexual contact or behavior
Domestic Violence Involving Sexual Assault
One of the main elements of sexual assault is lack of consent. According to the law, lack of consent is when your wife does not approve engaging in sexual contact with you. This means you used force to engage in the sexual act. It also means that your wife did not have the mental capacity to approve. For example, when a person is mentally disabled, they are mentally incapacitated, or physically helpless, and are not legally capable of consenting to a sexual act. Additionally, if the victim of a sexual act is below the age of consent, you can be charged with sexual assault because the person is not legally capable of consenting to a sexual act. This form of sexual assault is called statutory rape.
Types of Sexual Assault
Sexual assault crimes are categorized depending on the seriousness of the offense.
Forcible Touching, Sexual Abuse, and Sexual Misconduct
Forcible touching arises if you touch a person’s intimate areas without their consent. Sexual abuse and sexual misconduct is when you engage in sexual contact with a person against their will. Since these offenses are classified as misdemeanors, the maximum jail sentence is 1 year.
Sexual Abuse
While sexual abuse in the third and second degree is regarded a misdemeanor, first degree sexual abuse is a Class D felony. This offense involves engaging in sexual contact with physically helpless persons or forcibly engaging in sex with another person. The maximum jail sentence is 7 years.
Rape
Rape involves engaging in sexual intercourse without a person’s consent. Third degree rape is the least charge for rape. A conviction for this offense will subject you to 4 years in jail. Second degree rape involves sexual intercourse with a mentally disabled person. This is a Class D felony that bears a 7 years jail term. First degree rape is forcibly engaging in sexual intercourse with a person, and also involves engaging in such conduct with a physically helpless person. This is a Class B felony that bears a 25 years jail term.
Aggravated Sexual Assault
Aggravated sexual assault involves sexual intercourse using a foreign object without the person’s consent. This is a Class B felony that may have you imprisoned for up to 25 years.
Protective Orders
A victim of domestic violence may be issued with a protective order. These orders prohibit the offender from contacting or coming near the victim. The order may require the offender to vacate their family home or give up shared assets, such as automobiles.
A temporary protective order is granted in emergency conditions. This order is issued without notifying the respondent. Emergency protective orders last for a few days and may be turned into a long term order, where the judge calls for a hearing and gives the offender a chance to respond to the allegations of the victim.
When an offender violates a protective order, they may be subjected to new charges on top of any charges that caused the victim to seek after a protective order.