Huntington Beach Domestic Violence Lawyer

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Domestic Violence Attorney In Huntington Beach, CA

Domestic violence can refer to any type of coercive behavior that influences another person within the context of an intimate partner relationship. It often involves physical violence, but sexual, emotional, psychological, and economic abuse can all qualify, as well. If you’re facing any kind of abuse charges, you need to hire a Huntington Beach domestic violence lawyer right away.

Trust Goodman Criminal Litigation

Jacqueline Goodman, the founding attorney at The Law Office of Jacqueline Goodman, has extensive experience defending clients against domestic violence charges. She is a State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization-Certified Criminal Law Specialist and knows this field of practice inside and out. Improve your chances of beating your charges by working with our dedicated team of legal professionals.

Ready to defend your rights? Schedule your consultation with our Domestic Violence Attorney in Huntington Beach at 714-879-5770!

SOMETIMES BAD THINGS HAPPENTO GOOD PEOPLE

You Need Jacqueline On Your Side

I am committed to providing my clients with the trusted counsel and aggressive defense they deserve. I believe in redemption and helping people get second chances. I devote a significant portion of my practice to criminal justice reform and I have provided pro bono representation in impact litigation to change the laws to benefit every Californian.

No one is perfect, and everyone has flaws. A mistake should not define you, and our Huntington Beach criminal defense attorney is ready to fight to protect your future, no matter the charges. Attorney Jacqueline Goodman is here to get you out of this difficult situation and put you back in the position you were in before your trouble started!

The Law Office of Jacqueline Goodman

Why Hire a Domestic Violence Lawyer?

In 2023, 1 in 16 Californians reported experiencing some form of intimate partner violence. One in three women and one in four men experience some form of physical domestic violence in their lifetimes, and in 2023, 160,357 calls were made reporting intimate partner violence in California. This amounts to many thousands of Californians facing domestic violence charges each year.

If you’re one of the people facing charges of intimate partner violence of any kind in Huntington Beach, you should hire a domestic violence lawyer right away. Your lawyer can help you:

  • Understand your charges
  • Collect and analyze evidence
  • Look for procedural errors that could get your case thrown out
  • Construct a narrative of the event that shows you in a positive light
  • Determine the ideal strategy for defending yourself
  • Help you decide whether to take a plea deal
  • Provide courtroom representation should your case go to trial

You should be sure to hire a lawyer with plenty of experience successfully defending similar clients in the past.

Potential Victims of Domestic Violence

Only certain alleged victims can make allegations of domestic violence. This criminal charge must involve someone in the home or a family member living outside the home, such as:

  • Current or former spouses
  • Current or former partners
  • Current or former cohabitants
  • People who share children
  • Children of unmarried parents
  • People related by blood, such as parents, children, siblings, grandparents, and grandchildren
  • People related by affinity, such as in-laws

Potential Penalties for Domestic Violence

The penalties for domestic violence vary significantly depending on the nature of the crime and whether the accused is a first-time offender. Under California domestic violence laws, it’s often the case that first-time offenders receive probation rather than jail time, but repeated offenses typically result in more severe sentencing. Felony domestic violence charges can lead to substantial jail time and hefty fines.

What Qualifies as Domestic Violence?

Domestic violence offenses are focused on power and control. Alleged perpetrators are charged with committing abusive acts that manipulate their victims into feeling helpless. These acts can include:

  • Causing bodily injury
  • Attempting to cause bodily injury
  • Sexual assault
  • Causing a person to fear imminent bodily harm
  • Molesting a victim
  • Stalking a victim
  • Harassing a victim over the phone or via other means
  • Disturbing the peace of a victim through coercive control

Coercive control is a somewhat open-ended concept. It can be defined as the use of force or intimidation to:

  • Isolate a victim
  • Deprive a victim of basic necessities
  • Control a victim’s movements, daily behavior, communications, or finances
  • Compel a victim to engage in conduct they don’t want to engage in

You don’t need to physically harm someone to exercise coercive control over them. The threat of violence or the use of intimidation is enough to constitute domestic violence.

As you can see, domestic violence is broadly defined in the Golden State. The cases heard at the Harbor Justice Center vary significantly in their specifics, but all are taken seriously and prosecuted to the full extent of the law. You need a skilled lawyer to defend you against these charges.

CRIMINAL DEFENSE LAWS FAQ'S

Huntington Beach, CA

Most domestic violence cases get dismissed because of insufficient corroborating evidence, inconsistent testimony, or a lack of cooperation on the part of the alleged victim. Procedural errors and valid claims of self-defense also make it difficult for prosecutors to prove their cases beyond a reasonable doubt. You need a skilled Huntington Beach domestic violence attorney to represent you in court and work to push these and other defense strategies.

Your Huntington Beach Domestic Violence Lawyer

If you’re being accused of domestic violence, you should take the situation very seriously. You could face severe penalties if convicted, but a Huntington Beach domestic violence lawyer can help you avoid the worst potential outcomes of your charges. You can trust Jacqueline Goodman of Goodman Criminal Litigation to help. She is deeply familiar with domestic violence laws and how to defend clients facing these serious charges. Contact the firm to schedule a consultation.