If you have been arrested for domestic violence the first decision you have to make is whether or not you are hiring a lawyer. Many times people charged with CDV have had no or only little contact before with the Court system or lawyers and are unsure how to precede. Some people believe that hiring a lawyer is too expensive, failing to realize the significance of their case or the benefits to hiring a lawyer.
First off it is important to know what a CDV defense attorney brings to the table. This should include:
- An effective understanding of how criminal Court in South Carolina works
- The law surrounding criminal domestic violence (CDV)
- How CDV cases are prosecuted and handled differently than other crimes
- The local customs and practices of the police officers, prosecutors and judges likely to be encountered in your case
- Experience in actually trying CDV cases before jurors in your area
- Knowledge of the pros and cons of various options to include pre-trial intervention, plea bargains, bench trials and jury trials
- An understanding of how CDV law interplays with South Carolina Family Law and how it may impact your divorce, alimony, property division or child custody situation
- The ability to explain all of the above to you and relate it to your case in a way that you will be able to make the best decision as to how your case proceeds
- Being able to advocate your best interests both formally and informally to the prosecution and Court
When a CDV lawyer provides these services to a case they are providing value to their client well above and beyond the immediate consequences of the case. CDV convictions may create a lifetime criminal record that is accessible to the general public. This includes review by current and prospective employers, insurers when calculating rates and anyone who bothers to search your name on the State's free online index system or who purchases an inexpensive Internet background check.
An effective legal defense, as can only be provided by a criminal defense attorney, gives you the best possible chance at avoiding the consequences of a conviction. This is a benefit may very well improve your quality of life forever and may have added benefits to your family.