Domestic Violence

Criminal domestic violence cases often arise out of complicated family or dating relationships. Domestic incidents can lead to protective orders, barring the accused from returning home. Domestic violence cases can involve custody disputes, property disputes, disputes over ownership of pets, and can lead to divorce or family law litigation. Some of the potential charges one can face in a domestic violence case include: criminal threats, battery, assault, stalking, violation of a protective order, breaking or damaging a phone or communication device, and trespassing. If you have been accused of domestic violence, you should consult with a lawyer immediately. Domestic violence charges can have penalties including jail or state prison sentences, and formal probation requiring reporting to a probation officer. These charges can have professional licensing consequences.

Our office has been handling domestic violence cases in the San Francisco Bay Area for over a decade. During his time as a deputy public defender, Mr. Sullivan regularly handled domestic violence cases. He has also handled many domestic violence cases in private practice. Our office has experience working with family law attorneys to protect your rights. Mr. Sullivan has defended both women and men accused of domestic violence in the Bay Area and obtained successful results for both.

The prosecution may have a specialized domestic violence unit, and your case may be handled in a specialized domestic violence court. What this means is that if you are accused of domestic violence, your case will be carefully scrutinized and aggressively prosecuted.

If your case involves allegations of injury, you may need to hire an expert medical doctor or nurse to evaluate the evidence. If your case involves credibility issues, you may need to conduct investigation with a licensed private investigator. Our office has taken domestic violence cases to trial and won dismissals of these types of cases at every stage of the proceeding.

If you believe you may be responsible for the crime, our office can guide you into the best programs and therapy to address the issues underlying the arrest, and to seek to mitigate the damage this incident may cause in your life and the life of your family. Often alcohol is involved in domestic incidents. We can help you determine if alcohol treatment is something you should consider. The 52 week batterer intervention program can be voluntarily entered at any time. The 52 week batterer intervention program is the standard program that most all domestic violence charges require if ultimately convicted.

Many domestic violence cases will generate hours of video or audio footage during the police investigation. Modern police agencies use body cameras and are recording a vast amount of data. Your attorney must obtain, review, and evaluate all of that data to effectively and adequately defend you.

Whether your case is one you are certain that will go to trial or one you are seeking to resolve short of trial, our office has the experience and knowledge to assist. Contact our office today for a confidential consultation regarding your domestic violence matter.