A domestic violence arrest often happens immediately following an emotional confrontation with someone a person cares about deeply. At the first court appearance, the judge usually issues a peace order that requires the defendant the stay away from their home and their spouse while their case is pending. If this has happened to you, it can be a very confusing time. You may not know where to go and you likely want to talk to your spouse to try to work out your differences. Hiring an attorney after domestic violence arrests in Ocean City, MD is one of the best things a defendant can do to protect their rights.
Your attorney can help you understand the peace order and may be able to help you calmly plan for the time between your initial court appearance and your trial. There are several things you must not do when you are the subject of a peace order. In addition to having no personal contact with your spouse, you also may not contact them through another party. This means that you are not permitted to have any of your mutual friends get in contact with your spouse on your behalf, write letters, post on a social networking site or send email to the other party in your domestic violence case. Each separate violation of the court order is punishable by 60 days in jail.
The time between arrests in Ocean City MD and domestic violence trials is meant to be a time for each party to evaluate their situation without interference from the other. During this time, you should get an attorney and give him or her the names and contact information of witnesses that can testify on your behalf in your criminal trial. You will also have to surrender all of your firearms to local law enforcement. They will be returned to you after your trial if you are found not guilty. If your spouse contacts you while a peace order is in effect, do not respond. However, you should keep the messages and give them to your attorney. Responding to the messages, even if you were contacted first, can result in a violation of the order.
