Louisiana Domestic Violence Lawyer

Domestic violence crimes are aggressively prosecuted in Louisiana. These crimes often involve acts of violence such as assault and battery, yet these offenses are treated more seriously when they occur between family or household members. Law enforcement officers and prosecutors do their due diligence to put alleged domestic violence offenders behind bars and will rarely ever drop charges, even if the alleged victim does not wish to press charges. If you have been arrested for a domestic violence offense, it is important to speak with a knowledgeable criminal defense attorney in Louisiana as soon as possible.

What Counts as Domestic Violence in Louisiana?

Domestic violence in Louisiana is violence that occurs between family or household members. A common offense describing domestic violence is domestic abuse battery. Domestic abuse battery occurs when one household member uses willful force or violence against another household member. The state narrowly defines “household member” as anyone who:

• Is the opposite sex of the defendant and lives with the defendant as a spouse whether or not they are actually married.
• Is the opposite sex of the defendant and who resided with the defendant within 5 years of the domestic abuse battery, whether or not they were married.
• Is a child who lives with the defendant or has lived with the defendant within five years preceding the domestic abuse battery.
• Any child of the defendant regardless of where the child resides.

Crimes Associated with Domestic Violence

• Stalking/ Aggravated Stalking
• Harassment
• Cyberstalking
• Violation of Protective Order
• Criminal Abandonment
• Criminal Neglect