Rockland County Domestic Violence Lawyer
What is domestic violence?
Domestic violence occurs when one person attempts to control a spouse, child, family member, cohabitant or loved one through mental, physical and/or verbal abuse. There are a wide variety of physical, sexual, economic, psychological, lethal actions that are considered "control tactics".
- The State of New York recognizes the following:
- Unreasonable, non-negotiable demands
- Stalking
- Isolation
- Coercion
- Sexual abuse and violence
- Economic control and exploitation
- Strangulation
- Menacing
New York Domestic Violence Statistics
Domestic violence is a common problem in the state of New York. In 2011 alone, the 40 New York Domestic Violence Courts across the state handled 32,983 cases and the 46 Integrated Domestic Violence Courts across New York handled 16,191 cases.
In the same year, New York State courts required 218,872 of the 301,021 orders of protection they issued to be recorded in the UCS' Domestic Violence Registry. In 2012, Governor Cuomo strengthened the domestic violence laws in New York State. Domestic violence is considered an aggressive and serious crime and the penalties for those convicted of domestic violence are severe.
Domestic Violence Consequences
Although New York law makes no difference between domestic-violence related crimes and other offenses, violent acts, particularly violent felony offenses, are taken seriously and punished harshly.
If you are convicted of first-degree assault, for example, you will face 5 to 25 years in prison or a fine of up to $5,000. Because the penalties are so severe, you should seek the counsel of a Rockland County criminal defense attorney immediately if you have been arrested and charged with a domestic violence-related offense.
Enlist the Assistance of the Law Office of Brian Berkowitz
Domestic violence charges are serious and may affect your freedom, your ability to see your loved ones and your finances. I have been providing legal assistance to New York residents since 1998, and I am prepared to assist you. I worked in the Rockland County District Attorney's Office for over four years and understand the problems you are facing as well as how to build a strong defense.
If you have been accused of harming a family member, contact a Rockland County domestic violence attorney today to learn more about protecting your rights and interests.