Should Chicago Residents Plead Guilty To Domestic Violence – Series Recap

This post concludes my series on whether Chicago residents should plead guilty to domestic violence charges. I decided to write on this topic because the decision of whether to enter a plea, and to accept a permanent criminal record is not one which should be taken lightly. One point I have stressed throughout my recent articles is the fact that you should contact a criminal defense attorney as soon as possible if you find yourself facing charges.

I have addressed several topics over my recent posts. Issues which I have analyzed included serving probation after a domestic violence conviction and one’s gun rights after a domestic violence conviction. These are important topics for several reasons. First, one must be honest with themselves regarding their chances of succeeding on probation. If a defendant accepts a plea, and violates supervision, then they will likely serve jail time on top of any new criminal charges which may be brought. This means that you may not wish to plead guilty if you have a legitimate defense and you do not believe that you can succeed on probation. Second, many people are passionate about their firearm rights. Some are surprised to learn that pleading guilty will deprive them of their firearm rights even though domestic violence is generally not charged as a felony. My goal with this series has been to assist people in understanding these points.

If you have been charged then there are many things an attorney can do to assist you. You may have made statements to the police in violation of the Fifth Amendment. Counsel can file a request to exclude such statements from Court proceedings due to a Miranda violation. You may have a claim of self defense which allow you to beat the charges at trial. You may be facing false accusations of domestic violence as well. Whatever the situation, by retaining experienced counsel you help to ensure that you end up making the best possible choice for your given situation.

Contact my Orland Park office today to speak with a Chicago domestic violence defense lawyer. I will use your initial consultation to gain an understanding of what happened and to develop a strategy which will move your case forward. I am a former prosecutor with over thirty years of legal experience. I know what to expect from the process and am ready to assist you. We handle matters in areas of Cook County including Chicago Ridge, Glenview, Crestwood, Evergreen Park, Bedford Park, Palos Park, Oak Lawn, Burbank, Oak forest, Blue Island, Palos Heights, Palos Hills, Alsip, Bridgeview, Lemont, Orland Hills, Country Club Hills, Hickory Hills, Summit, Richton Park, Midlothian, Worth, Posen, Matteson, Olympia Fields, Hometown, and Tinley Park, in DuPage County areas including Downers Grove, Naperville, Woodridge, and Darien, in Kane County areas including Aurora, Elgin and Geneva, and the Will County cities of Joliet, Bolingbrook, Mokena, Frankfort, New Lenox, Lockport, Homer Glen, Romeoville, and Manhattan.