| Domestic violence may be charged as a felony or | | | | need to involve a married couple. Cohabitating |
| misdemeanor in Los Angeles and California. In most | | | | couples, couples who are merely dating and couples |
| cases, whether or not this crime is prosecuted as | | | | who have mutual children are all covered under |
| one or the other has to do with the severity of the | | | | domestic violence legislation. Additionally, a range of |
| injuries received by the victim as well as with the | | | | activities other than actual physical violence can be |
| criminal past of the accused. Those charged with this | | | | prosecuted as misdemeanor domestic violence in |
| crime have no opportunity to have the charges | | | | California. For instance, stalking, harassment and |
| dropped if it is being prosecuted as a felony. The | | | | threats can all be construed as acts of domestic |
| state will prosecute the charges whether or not the | | | | violence. Even if one is charged with misdemeanor |
| victim wishes to have the case brought into court. | | | | domestic violence, the penalties can be extremely |
| Police officers in Los Angeles have tremendous | | | | severe and can have life-changing consequences |
| leeway when domestic violence is suspected. They | | | | even if the individual accused was no abuser and if |
| may seize any weapons in the house, including | | | | the charges were completely false. |
| firearms, separate the couple and police officers are | | | | Some of the consequences of misdemeanor |
| empowered to determine whether any injuries | | | | domestic violence include prison terms, community |
| observed at the scene are the result of domestic | | | | service or physical labor, a year of mandated |
| violence. If one finds themselves in a situation where | | | | counseling and various fines. If one finds themselves |
| a partner or spouse is erroneously or knowingly | | | | in a situation where they are being accused of acts |
| claiming that domestic violence was perpetrated | | | | of domestic violence, the most important thing to |
| against them when this is not the case, one is in a | | | | remember is to call one's attorney and to not answer |
| situation where extremely harsh consequences could | | | | any questions put to one by arresting officers. One |
| be meted out if one does not immediately contact a | | | | should always be cooperative and friendly to the |
| lawyer who is qualified to offer defense in these | | | | officers and keep in mind that, if they do not have a |
| cases. | | | | lawyer, that domestic violence is a specialty field |
| Misdemeanor domestic violence in California does not | | | | which requires specialty representation. |