Bremerton Criminal Law Blog

Facing accusations of any type of criminal or violent behavior can be overwhelming, especially if you know they are not true. Even if there is no validity to the claims made about you, it is important not to underestimate the potential impact that allegations of domestic violence can have on your life. If you are in this position, it is in your interests to know how to fight back and protect yourself.

Domestic violence and abuse can come in various forms, and it is a serious criminal offense. Not only is your personal reputation and other important things on the line, you are also facing the very real possibility of ending up behind bars. You will want to develop a strong defense strategy as soon as possible and take other steps that will help you preserve your interests.

Getting into a physical altercation or otherwise heated fight with another person can be a stressful situation. You likely did not start your evening with the intention of winding up in such a predicament, and when the situation began to escalate, you may have felt fearful and likely did not know what would happen next.

At some point during the altercation, someone called the police. As a result, officers arrived on the scene, and though they may not have had all the information, they took you into custody on suspicion of assault. You may have wanted to immediately start defending yourself, but it is likely that the officers were not hearing it.

Following someone's arrest, it is not uncommon for that person to spend some time in jail before making a first appearance before a judge. This hearing, called an arraignment, is when the accused hears the charges prosecutors are filing and has the chance to enter a plea. The judge may then set bail.

Bail is money or valuables those facing criminal charges pay to the court as an assurance that they will return for trial. If they show up, they get their money back. If they do not, they lose their money and may face additional charges. However, you may be among the many who feel that the cash bail system in Washington is unfair. In some areas of the state, court systems are trying other methods.

Perhaps you were driving to your destination minding your own business when the patrol car behind you turned on its lights and sirens warning you to pull over. You knew that you often drive mindlessly since you know the roads well, so you aren't sure what you did. Maybe you were speeding or forgot to signal as you changed lanes.

In any case, your thoughts then turned to the couple of drinks you had with friends before heading home. You never thought you weren't capable of driving safely, but you know that may not matter if the officer smells alcohol on your breath.