Have you been arrested for domestic violence charges in the city of Riverside? This crime can be considered a "wobbler" offense which means that the prosecutor could decide to file a misdemeanor charge or felony charge against you. A charge of this nature can carry severe consequences and the courts seem to be buckling down even harsher on alleged offenders. Criminal penalties can negatively affect your rights, your pocket book, your freedom and your reputation. Riverside criminal defense attorneys are now aware that penalties for domestic violence convictions have been increased.
According to old statutes, anyone who pled to domestic violence charges could face the following penalties:
- Eight hours of mandatory community service
- Complete a 52 batterer's treatment program
- Pay $400 to the Battered Women's Shelter
- Possible jail/prison sentence
- Probation
- Possible restraining order
Due to the violent and malicious nature of this offense, the county of Riverside has decided to increase these penalties as a deterrent to offenders. Now anyone who please to these charges is required to:
- Fulfill 20 hours of community service
- Complete a 52 batterer's treatment program
- Pay $800 to the Battered Women's Shelter
- Possible jail/prison sentence
- Probation
- Possible restraining order
This is not the only change that Riverside County has made. As of July 12th 2013, they have decided that they will begin charging a jail fee for every day you spend behind bars until your case is resolved. This can add up rather quickly if you have been accused of a felony offense. Our firm recently handled a domestic violence case where the client was facing felony charges. The client only spent three days in jail before we were able to bail him out and have the charges reduced to a misdemeanor offense. For those three days in jail, the court charged our client $435 in jail fees. So far, Riverside County is the only area to implement these new changes.
If you have been arrested and accused of domestic violence, you are now facing substantially higher penalties. The laws in Riverside County are harsh and unforgiving in this area and now they may begin charging you for every day you spend behind bars. For these reasons, you should seek hard-hitting criminal defense against your charges. Here at The Law Offices of Ty Martinez, we have more than 20 years of combined experience protecting the rights of the accused and we can defend you during this difficult time. Our firm has also been recognized with the Avvo Client's Choice award for 2013. For aggressive criminal defense and representation you can trust, contact a Riverside domestic violence lawyer from our firm today! Call today for a free case evaluation at (888) 464-1038.