In the past, domestic violence was a topic that was almost taboo to talk openly about. However, the issue has gone from something that was primarily hush-hush to something that is openly discussed even in the media. 

Domestic violence is a serious criminal offense, and the police can arrest you even under suspicion of DV. Most people fail to realize that Many states do not treat DV as a separate crime. The police won’t charge you for domestic violence. Instead, you will receive a sentencing enhancement that may increase the severity of the DV charge against you if you get arrested for another crime such as assault or stalking.

The consequences of DV charges are dire, which is why having an aggressive lawyer by your side is helpful. If you have been arrested for domestic violence, book a case evaluation with a domestic violence attorney today to assess your chances.

What Counts As Domestic Violence

In most states, domestic violence refers to an act or a threat of violence against a person with whom the accused is or was in an intimate relationship. DV also includes several other crimes when used to coerce, punish, control, revenge, or intimidate the victim. The following ten crimes count as domestic violence:

• Sexual contact
• False imprisonment
• Sexual assault
• Violation of a restraining order
• Assault
• Stalking
• Child abuse
• Menacing
• Elder abuse
• Harassment

The charges can also be enhanced when the accused commits crimes against property or pets. If, for instance, a person destroys their partner’s car, that counts as abusive behavior, and the prosecutor can bring enhancements against the person for being abusive to their partner.

On the other side of the spectrum, if the person got into a fight with their neighbor and destroyed their vehicle in the same manner, they may be arrested for the crime. However, the prosecution will not bring a DV enhancement since the two were never intimate.

Domestic violence doesn’t always look like physical or sexual abuse. You can also get arrested if found committing financial abuse like blackmail or cyberstalking your partner as a means of revenge.

Common Penalties of a Domestic Violence Conviction

Since domestic violence is classified as an enhancement, the punishment will depend on the underlying charge. The court may order that the accused receive a complete evaluation and finish a domestic treatment program. They may also impose or extend a restraining order.

Can the Charges Be Dropped Upon the Victim’s Request?

The charges cant be dropped immediately after the victim recants their statement. Police officers usually suspect the victim’s motives if they recant their allegations under the assumption that they have either been threatened, their family wants them to take back the story, or they want financial support from the defendant.

Additionally, prosecutors cant dismiss charges when there is sufficient evidence of domestic violence despite the victim’s retort. For instance, if the incident was caught on camera or various credible eyewitnesses are willing to testify.

The only way DV charges can be dismissed is if the prosecutor claims that they have insufficient evidence to prove guilt. 

What Are the Common Defense Strategies?

 There are three common defenses in DV cases that a lawyer can use. They have to prove that:

1. The victim wasn’t harassed- Harassment is usually subjective as what one may consider annoying may be endearing to another. Evidence in such a hearing may include video recordings, eyewitness statements, emails, or text messages.
2. The accused had no intent to harass or alarm the victim- Proving intent can somehow be difficult. If the prosecution cannot prove intent beyond any reasonable doubt, the case has to be dropped.
3. The defendant was falsely accused- The accuser may have acted out of malice due to a failed relationship. In such a case, the lawyer must establish a pattern or prove that the evidence presented in court, such as eyewitness recounts and texts, were fabricated. If the prosecutor brings the alleged victim’s credibility to question, the charges may be dropped.

Talk to an Attorney Today

If you stand domestic violence charges, a domestic violence attorney can help. Get in contact with a lawyer right away to start working on your case.

With the tremendous growth of social media, lawyers and law firms need to start social media to keep clients and market their services. This article covers six important things every lawyer should do to get started with social media.

1. Developing a Relationship With the Client

Lawyers are professionals, and a part of their job is to take care of clients, so they should always look for opportunities to develop relationships. Social media play a vital role in any business, so understanding that aspect is important. It is also very helpful in developing trust between you and the client because they know you are willing to take time out of your busy schedule to help them.

2. Use Social Media to Build Credibility by Adding Some Credibility

Social media is an excellent way to promote yourself and your firm, but it has to be done correctly. It’s not enough to constantly tweet about how awesome you are. You need to add credibility by tweeting links to important articles in your practice area and tips.

3. Using Social Media to Develop Your Business

• Use social media as one of your business development tools. Social media can help build credibility and allow you to generate leads for your firm. However, if you haven’t already done so, you must consider how you will use the various platforms to do those things.
• Be sure to use the right tools. Various metrics can analyze whether your social media efforts are working. Regularly check out these metrics and determine which ones apply best to your overall strategy.
• Get help from professionals who know what they’re doing.

4. Leveraging on Other People

Leverage means reaching out to friends, colleagues, and clients so that they can help spread the word about you. The best way to do this is by creating content worth sharing. Remember: social media engagement should be about much more than just selling; instead, use it to promote your work and expertise.

5. Adding Value to Online Conversation

You can build trust and attract clients to your law practice by following these easy steps.

• Be a thought leader: Join the conversation about what’s going on in your area of expertise. Share interesting articles you find online and comment on posts in discussion groups and forums.
• Be a participant: Show up for events and people who are relevant to your field, whether it’s conferences, trade shows, or blogs that discuss legal issues you specialize in – anything that will get your name out there will help grow your community of followers on social media channels such as Twitter and LinkedIn.
• Be a content creator: Make use of those opportunities by sharing videos or podcasts with helpful information for professionals in similar fields – even if they’re starting!

6. Create an Image for Yourself That Enables People to See Who You Are

Creating an image of yourself that helps people understand who you are as a person and professional is essential. Be authentic. Be consistent. Be regular and consistent about writing blogs, posting on social media sites, and updating your website with content that is useful to others.

Conclusion

So these are the six things you should do to get started with social media. However, this list is not exhaustive—there are plenty of other sites that you can add to the list and sites that can help you develop and maintain your digital marketing efforts. Even if you implement one or two of the ideas above, your efforts will likely benefit. For more details, contact Rocket Pilots!

An Overview Of The US Voting Rights Act: What is it? And how can you use it to help change your local voting rules? Read on to find out! In this article, you will learn about the history of the US voting rights act, what it requires, and how it affects Native American voting rights. You will also learn about the Help America Vote Act and the Help America Vote requirements. If you are an American citizen and wish to vote in your local elections, check out our other articles about voting rights.

Help America Vote Act

The Help America Vote Act of 2002 was a landmark law passed by the United States Congress in 2002. The act sets certain standards for voting machines and procedures in order to ensure voter accuracy and confidence in the electoral process. The law also imposes requirements for election security, poll worker training, and voter education. Ultimately, the Help America Vote Act improves the quality of our elections and helps ensure that they are fair and free of fraud.

The Help America Vote Act was signed into law on October 29, 2002. It is administered by the Secretary of Health and Human Services, who delegated responsibility to the Administration on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, previously known as the ADAPT. The legislation provides funding to eligible Protection and Advocacy Systems (P&As).

Help America Vote Act requirements

The Help America Vote Act requires all new federal voters to obtain voter identification before casting their ballot. The Help America Vote Act was drafted in response to a scandal surrounding the 2000 presidential election. While it is unclear whether the Act is effective, the U.S. Election Assistance Commission is responsible for evaluating the Act’s impact. The Act’s requirements can be confusing, but it’s not impossible to comply.

To meet the Help America Vote Act requirements, states must implement a state-based grievance process. In Michigan, the bureau of elections, or MAC, is responsible for resolving formal and informal complaints. The bureau reviews reports and resolves them after every federal election cycle. The Michigan Department of State’s Bureau of Elections will review complaints after each election cycle. If the complaints are remediated, they will be reported to the Secretary of State.

History

During the 19th century, black Americans, non-white citizens, and Native Americans were excluded from voting under Jim Crow laws. These laws, which resisted the right of black people to vote, were eliminated in the early 1820s when the Reconstruction Act required these states to pass new constitutions that were ratified by an electorate made up of both white and black men. After the Civil War, the Republican Party called for the Fifteenth Amendment, which prohibited the denial of voting rights on the basis of race or prior condition of servitude. The new amendment was a much stronger one, and it would have excluded felons, as well as people who had engaged in rebellion against the United States.

In the early 1970s, Congress extended Section 5 for five years and again for seven years, validating the Supreme Court’s broad interpretation of the Act. In addition, the 1975 amendments imposed additional protections against discrimination and manipulation in voting. Furthermore, the act provided protection against poll tax, and even prohibited the disenfranchisement of language minorities from voting. And the enactment of the Voting Rights Act is a good example of how our nation has evolved over time.

Native American voting rights

While there are several barriers to voting, Indigenous people face unique obstacles. The lack of access to polling places, cultural disrespect, and geographically remote residences present significant barriers to voting. A growing COVID-19 pandemic has only exacerbated these issues. State laws and discriminatory redistricting add additional hurdles. Elections officials also must ensure that polling locations are easily accessible and that staffing is bilingual or multilingual.

The Indian Citizenship Act of 1924 guaranteed Native American citizenship, but it did not automatically grant them the right to vote. The Fifteenth Amendment declared that voting rights could not be denied solely on the basis of race. But many states found other excuses to prevent Native citizens from exercising their right to vote. Some states cited taxation, tribal enrollment, and even incompetence as reasons to deny Native people the right to vote.

Extensions of voting rights

The US Constitution and state laws govern the eligibility of individuals to vote. The constitution and its amendments do not allow the abridgement of these rights on the basis of race, color, or sex. In the first half of the 20th century, many anti-slavery measures were declared unconstitutional, and voter registration rates among African Americans were far below those of whites. The extension of voting rights in the US was introduced in the early 2000s as part of sweeping voting process reform.

The Voting Rights Act of 1965 was extended for 25 years and the language minority provisions were strengthened. These changes extended coverage for voting to areas with less than 50 percent of the voting-age population by November 1968. Also, the Voting Rights Language Assistance Act required the use of bilingual election materials and mandated the provision of voter education to illiterate people. The law also banned the use of literacy tests. The Voting Rights Act of 1965 also established the provision of bilingual election materials in areas with high minority populations.

As you drive along, you may encounter situations that leave you frustrated and full of confusion. Whether you have other passengers with you in the car or you are by yourself, you may not initially know how to react. The intense rage and anger that some people feel after getting cut off at a turn or over some other traffic violation can make you feel overwhelmed. Learning about how road rage affects people can help you be a better driver.

1. Eyes Off the Road

While it is common to glance around and see what other cars are doing, road rage can have you focusing intensely on one particular vehicle. This means you may barely notice anyone else and could even end up sideswiping or running into other cars or pedestrians. When you do not look around at your surrounding while driving and get into a crash, you may need to search for court ordered classes online in order to drive again.

2. Foggy Mind

When you feel a burst of anger, it can cause you to forget important safety tips and anything else you were thinking of before. In the heat of the moment, you may make rash decisions in order to get the attention of another driver. Whether that is speeding ahead or break checking by stopping short in front of another car, these actions can put you and others in danger.

Having a clear mind and a calm demeanor is key for anyone in traffic. Putting on music you love or an audiobook can help distract you if you start to notice yourself getting more frustrated.

3. Increased Speeding

In some instances, drivers with road rage may begin to tailgate other people. Following closely behind someone is a way to intimidate and irritate them, but it can also lead to less time to react to obstacles or sudden dangers on the road. Speeding in order to pull up alongside the car in order to yell out the window is another sign of road rage.

4. Lost Control

Being able to hold onto the steering wheel and keep your feet safely on the brake and gas is vital in a car. When a person with road rage is focused on weaving through lanes or following another vehicle, they can easily lose control of the wheel. Whether that person is trying to make rude gestures toward other people or just merely cannot sit still, anger can influence how safe a driver is.

Whether you are applying for a green card, defending yourself against removal, or any other immigration issues, you need an immigration attorney on your side. The lawyer represents you in a court hearing, helps you file documentation, and ensures you do not make mistakes that can jeopardize your case. But before you hire an attorney, you need to schedule a consultation with them for any questions you may have. After that, you can decide whether you will retain a lawyer. So, how do you prepare for your consultation? Here are some tips to guide you.

Prepare A List of Questions You Would Like To Ask

Obviously, there are certain concerns you have regarding the case and the potential attorneys. So, note down any questions you may want to ask. For instance, ask whether they have handled cases like yours before. Asking about the attorneys’ track record is a simple request that the lawyer should have no issues answering. You should also ask what your chances of success are. It is good to be realistic. Not all immigration cases are successful. Some take several trials before getting a positive outcome. A knowledgeable immigration attorney knows how certain cases turn out and will know what strategies to use on your case. Lastly, ask about time. Good immigration lawyers tend to have a lot on their plates. Too many cases can prevent an attorney from giving your case the attention it deserves. It is good to know whether the lawyer will have adequate time for your case.

Carry Your Immigration Documents To The consultation

When going for the first consultation, bring all your relevant documents with you. For instance, carry copies of documents that have been filed by the USCIS or ICE. Include immigration receipts, notices, and decisions and bringing copies of passports, green cards, birth certificates, marriage certificates, and employment authorization cards. If you have an immigration court hearing in the next few weeks and you have got a notification in writing, bring a copy of it as well. That way, the attorney can also confirm the date and be present for the hearing.

Arrive On Time

When the attorney schedules you for a particular time, be there on time. That allows you to make the most of the time you have. If you are late, there is a possibility that you will not manage to get all the answers to your questions. That means having to schedule another meeting, and if your case is urgent, you might not get the help you need on time. Arrive at least 15 minutes earlier to find time to park the car, find the office, and fill in the consultation form.

Be Prepared For Anything

It is good to find immigration attorneys that will strive to help you in the best way possible. However, it is not all the time you will hear what you want. At times, the attorney will give you different information than what you expected. It is the duty of the lawyer to let you know whether you have the chance of winning the case or not. So, manage your expectations from the start to make things easier.

Be Honest

Your attorney works with the information you provide. If you hold back, you are limiting the chances of winning the case. Plus, the government already has your full history and can use this against you. Do not put yourself at a disadvantage by not being honest. Also, note that the attorney cannot give you proper legal counsel without all the information.

The purpose of a consultation is to get to know an attorney and how they can help. Make the most out of it by preparing adequately using the tips mentioned above.

Whether a lawsuit is filed against a lawyer for negligence or a claim for professional malpractice, it can be difficult to know whether you have a case. There are a number of reasons why an attorney might be held accountable for professional misconduct. The most common example is when an attorney makes a mistake and fails to represent their client’s best interest. Some attorneys may also lose important evidence or files. If you feel that your lawyer is at fault, you should contact an attorney as soon as possible.

You Need An Attorney

Regardless of the type of malpractice claim, a lawyer is required to represent their clients in court. This involves investigations, pleadings, and possible settlements and appeals. Therefore, an attorney should never take on a claim he or she cannot see through. Because there are many rules and regulations that may affect the outcome of a case, it is vital for an attorney to be well-versed in these laws and procedures. According to Lawyers Mutual, one of the most common mistakes made by attorneys during litigation is not knowing the correct statute of limitations or not maintaining a complete calendaring system.

Several Common Attorney Mistakes Exist

Another common mistake is when an attorney neglects to file paperwork on time. Other common instances of legal malpractice include failure to provide competent representation, breach of duty of confidentiality, and improper use of funds in the client’s name. Other examples of legal malpractice include overcharging a client or accepting a settlement offer without the client’s consent. If you suspect that your lawyer has committed a legal error, consult with a legal malpractice attorney in your area.

A lawyer can be found liable for malpractice if he or she fails to provide competent legal services. A client can sue a lawyer for this when an attorney has made a mistake that caused the client damage. Depending on the severity of the injury, a lawsuit for legal malpractice may include a significant settlement or a hefty fine. In addition to a lawsuit, you can also seek disciplinary action against an attorney.

Creating more Client Damages

A legal malpractice attorney may be responsible for a client’s damages if the original attorney failed to fulfill a duty of care to him or her. In this situation, the attorney must have violated a duty of care to the client by failing to comply with the client’s instructions. A law firm must also comply with state and federal laws concerning legal malpractice. This is the most common type of case. When a lawyer is blaming a client for damages, the lawyer is liable.

A legal malpractice claim can be brought against an attorney if he or she did not meet a standard of care. A lawyer should have a high standard of care, and should follow the rules of the American Bar Association and other professional associations. A lawyer should be responsible for his or her clients’ needs. A negligent attorney can even cause a personal injury in the wrong hands. If a client is unable to find the right attorney, they may be forced to file a lawsuit with the help of Alabama legal malpractice attorneys.

Although it is a tough spot for anyone to be in, there are a few things individuals can do to help make sense of the legal system following an arrest. Whether facing a criminal trial or plea agreement with prosecutors, the following tips are likely to come in handy regardless of the nature of the charges or jurisdiction in which they have been filed.

Learn About the Legal Ramifications

Each criminal prosecution is unique and every defendant will handle the situation differently. For that reason, it is important for someone facing criminal charges to familiarize himself or herself with the intricacies of the circumstance as early on in the process as possible. For example, determining whether unconditional bail bonds are applicable will help a defendant determine what will happen prior to the trial. With a release on bond, a person will be able to wait at home until the proceedings start, provided all conditions handed down by the judge are met.

Surround Yourself With Experts

After the initial shock of the situation has subsided a bit, it will be time to begin digging deep into the problem at hand. Of course, this will involve open and honest conversations with a team of legal advisers. It is worth noting that there are many types of criminal defense attorneys, each of which focuses on a somewhat different area of the law. Begin searching for highly recommended law firms in the area and reach out to determine which is the best fit. Although such professionals are notoriously expensive, U.S. law stipulates that those who are unable to afford an attorney will have a public defender provided to represent them at no personal cost.

Work Out a Satisfactory Game Plan

Upon sitting down with the team of lawyers, the conversation will soon turn to how to mount a credible defense. Even if the trial ends with a conviction, there are methods of reducing the severity of the charges or even avoiding jail time in some cases. Remember to always share the truth about what has happened so that the counselors will be able to formulate the best available path forward.

In most cases, the prospect of criminal prosecution is enough to completely uproot a person’s life. Nevertheless, some time-tested strategies like those listed above can often help reduce the amount of stress this situation presents to a defendant and his or her loved ones.