Domestic violence is a very serious criminal offense in Ohio. Police, prosecutors, and judges take domestic violence accusations very seriously.
Therefore, for any suspect facing a domestic violence charge or at risk of being accused, even falsely accused, of domestic violence, it is vital to be knowledgeable about how a domestic violence accusation is dealt with by the police, the prosecution, and the judge.
It is also important to become familiar with common words and phrases used within domestic violence law and criminal defense law in general, including:
- Probable cause
- Arrest
- Discovery
- Proof beyond a reasonable doubt
- TPO (or temporary protective order)
- Family or household member
It is also necessary to understand the process of discovery, or obtaining evidence, in Ohio to be aware of evidence that the prosecution plans on using to attempt to prove the charge of domestic violence. Furthermore, the suspect needs to know about the potential penalties and ramifications that a domestic violence charge/conviction can have on his/her life.
Most importantly, the suspect must know how a qualified and competent lawyer goes about crafting defenses for a domestic violence case in Ohio. Knowledge is critical for a person accused of domestic violence because there is so much to potentially lose if the suspect is not represented by a knowledgeable and skilled lawyer.
This free download summarizes these issues for your knowledge.