When people speak of Long Island they generally are referring to Nassau County and Suffolk County. While the jurisdictions are separate both the Nassau County District Attorney and the Suffolk County District Attorney work closely with their respective police departments to ensure maximum enforcement of the law as it applies to Domestic Violence. Together they prosecute the defendants to the fullest extent of the law. That is why it's important to have an experienced Long Island Domestic Violence Lawyer who is familiar with both the Nassau and Suffolk Criminal Courts to defend your legal rights.
Many people are lulled into the belief that once the police appear after a call, they can talk their way out of the arrest. You can't. In fact, if the police are going to arrest you, your statements can be used against you. Thus, making you case more difficult to defend.
One of the lesser-known facts is that if you are arrested on a Domestic Violence incident the police have no discretion after an arrest. They must process you and put you through the system. In both Nassau and Suffolk County, as your Criminal Lawyer will tell you, there are no Desk Appearance tickets issued on a Domestic Violence case. You must have an arrangement and see the Criminal Court Judge. There is no formal charge of Domestic Violence under New York State law. Normally, the accused faces a criminal charge that contains some type of assault, sex crime or harassment. The criminal charge can either be a misdemeanor or a Felony.
Nassau County, Long Island or Suffolk County, Long Island have multiple Criminal Courts with specific courtrooms within each County that hear Domestic Violence cases. In Nassau County there is District Criminal Court located in Hempstead, New York, and the County Court in Mineola New York that hears Domestic Violence cases. In Suffolk County, Domestic Violence cases are heard in Criminal Court in Central Islip and Riverhead, Long Island. Both Nassau and Suffolk County Offices of the District Attorneys have Criminal Bureaus that report to each Criminal Court throughout the Long Island Court System. This makes it necessary to have an experienced Long Island Criminal Lawyer who is knowledgeable in both Nassau and Suffolk County and has experience in Domestic Violence cases. Part of that is knowing the various defenses that may include but are not limited to consent and self-defense.
The Criminal Lawyers of Stephen Bilkis & Associates, PLLC possess the knowledge and experience, which enables them to handle Domestic Violence cases throughout Long Island. Each Long Island Domestic Violence Lawyer in our office if both approachable and patient and will listen to your concerns and fight for your rights. Call our office for a free consultation at 800.696.9529 for an appointment on Long Island. Whatever type of Domestic Violence charge you are facing. Each Long Island Criminal Lawyer in our office stands ready to answer your questions and fight for your rights and offers a free consultation.