Domestic violence is a serious crime. It is important to note that a charge is not a conviction. However, domestic violence charges usually lead to an arrest. The accused individual may not receive a bond. Whether or not a bond is granted is usually dependent upon the circumstances surrounding the charges. Some incidents involve violence or violation of an existing protective order. Judges may impose higher bonds for these incidents or deny bonds. The following points provide insight into these delicate cases and bond considerations.
Felony vs. Misdemeanor
Some domestic violence cases are viewed as felonies and others as misdemeanors. There are different types of domestic violence. Some cases involve physical attacks. Judges use information such as whether the alleged victim sustains injuries to decide on a domestic violence bond. An individual who gets a misdemeanor charge and gets out on a domestic violence bail bond could get upgraded charges to a felony if they violate the original bond conditions.
Domestic Violence Bail Bond Conditions
The conditions of the bail bond will vary. The defendant must comply with the conditions that the court imposes. No-contact orders are common when there are situations where a judge has concerns that violence may escalate or an alleged victim may be tempted to withdraw charges. Judges may decide to impose bond restrictions that prevent defendants from contacting alleged victims. All individuals must comply with the terms.
When Conditions Are Broken
Domestic violence bonds can be withdrawn when defendants are non-compliant. This can lead to jail time. Defendants may have to go to jail until their cases are complete. A domestic violence bail bondsman can decide whether to continue on a bond of a violator. If they do not, the accused will likely have to spend time in jail unless they have the resources to get themselves out of jail.
Victims Who Reconsider
In many jurisdictions, an alleged victim can resign from wanting to prosecute a case. However, state prosecutors can pursue the domestic violence case. This means that they can challenge the domestic violence bail bond. A revocation hearing is possible. It is imperative to have a domestic violence bail bond representative present for these hearings.
A domestic violence bail bondsman is a good resource to use to understand what to do before and after arraignments. Some domestic violence cases take years to resolve. A domestic violence bail bond representative could help the court to understand when an individual has been compliant and improve circumstances such as child visitation.
Contact a company like U.S. Bonding Co. for more information.