West Michigan and Grand Rapids Area Attorneys Experienced in Handling Domestic Violence Cases for over 40 Years
Domestic violence is a pattern of learned behavior in which one person uses physical, sexual and emotional abuse to control another person. Under Michigan law, a person has a domestic relationship with any of the following persons:
- Spouse or former spouse
- Boyfriend/girlfriend or former boyfriend/girlfriend
- Children in common
- Resident or former resident of the same household, such as a roommate or other relative
Each domestic violence charge is a misdemeanor that is punishable by up to 93 days in jail and/or a $500.00 fine.
Behaviors that may be considered abusive in the above relationships include, but are not limited to:
- Physical Abuse – pushing, kicking, hitting, biting, hitting, locking out of the home, using a weapon, forcibly keeping in the home, abandoning, denying help when ill, injured, or pregnant, etc.
- Sexual Abuse – forcing to have sex, to perform sexual acts, to watch sexual acts, to have sex after being assaulted, etc.
- Emotional & Psychological Abuse – threatening harm to a person, his or her family, or his or her pets, manipulating behavior with lies and contradictions, blaming, ridiculing beliefs, race, heritage class, religion, etc.
- Economic Abuse – denying access to bank accounts, credit cards or vehicles, preventing someone from getting or keeping a job or going to school, limiting access to health or dental insurance, etc.
The State of Michigan has created a diversion program that allows some people to avoid prosecution. The qualifications and requirements for the program are quite extensive. If you are charged with domestic violence, it is important to contact an attorney in order to protect your rights. Witnesses, written statements, and behavioral history are often needed to determine whether certain behavior constitutes domestic violence. Michael F. Kelly and the attorneys at Kelly Law Offices, P.C. have decades of experience with domestic assault cases and the Domestic Violence Diversion Program.
For a free consultation of your case, call Kelly Law Offices, P.C. or click here to send us an email.
For more information on Domestic Violence from the Michigan State Police, click here.
