Domestic Violence Defence

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Domestic violence crimes are those offences that take place between members of an intimate relationship (such as a marriage, common-law or other romantic relationship regardless of whether they are current or former partners).  Incidents of domestic violence are taken extremely seriously by the justice system because they make up the majority of violent offenses and they tend to occur within an ongoing cycle of abuse.

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Domestic violence can take many forms:

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• Physical, emotional, or economic threats

• Threats against children, pets, property

• Stalking

• Harassment

• Other types of injury or abuse

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Nova Scotia operates under the pro-arrest, pro-charge, pro-prosecution policy. Even if the other party does not want to press charges, police will usually do so on their behalf. This means that if you’ve been arrested or charged for events related to domestic violence, you’ll need someone on your side, an advocate who will ensure you are treated fairly.

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In Nova Scotia, we have a court specifically designated for individuals who plead guilty to domestic violence offenses, called Domestic Violence Court. Participating in programs offered through Domestic Violence Court can have a positive effect on the consequences an accused may face.

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Moreso than other types of criminal offences, having a domestic violence charge on your record can have a serious impact on your life, especially when it comes to family law issues such as custody or access.

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Too much is at stake to deal with a situation like this on your own. There are always two sides to every story. With his skill and experience in domestic violence defence, you can count on the lawyers at Hutchison Law to make sure your side is taken as seriously as anyone else’s.

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