Any criminal activity has consequences and carries certain penalties, regardless of which state you are in. In Ohio, certain crimes have special rules attached to them. One example of a crime with slightly different treatment from other offenses is Domestic Violence. In this article, we explore what happens after a Domestic Violence conviction in Ohio.
Penalties for Domestic Violence
As with any crime, several factors in a given case can affect the initial sentence of a crime. One big factor is whether the Domestic Violence conviction is a misdemeanor or a felony. A Domestic Violence (DV) conviction will often come with heavy fines and/or jail or even prison time.
Section 2919.25 of the Ohio Revised Code (ORC) describes numerous illegal actions that can be considered Domestic Violence. Because there are so many actions with different degrees of severity that all fall under Domestic Violence, it is hard to say what the penalty may be in any given DV case. If you are charged with Domestic Violence in Ohio, feel free to contact Dearie, Fischer & Martinson at one of our Warren or Montgomery County offices.
You can read more about the penalties for DV in our article, “Charged with Criminal Domestic Violence in Ohio? Things You Need to Know.”
DV as a Offense of Violence
Another thing that separates Domestic Violence from other crimes in Ohio is the fact that Ohio law considers DV an offense of violence (see ORC 2901.01(A)(9)(a)). Ohio law treats offenses of violence differently, especially when it comes to sealing and expungement, which we talk about in the next section.
Domestic Violence and Expungement in Ohio
As mentioned above, Ohio considered DV an offense of violence. As such, a felony conviction of Domestic Violence can cause a criminal record to be ineligible for sealing and expungement.
If you have Domestic Violence on your record and want to know if it is eligible for expungement, feel free to contact Dearie, Fischer & Martinson for expert legal help.
Firearms Restrictions with Domestic Violence
Some Domestic Violence convictions carry a lifetime federal restriction on the offender’s right to own firearms. However, in specific situations, DV offenders can have their gun rights restored after 5 years. The attorneys at Dearie, Fischer and Martinson have plenty experience restoring gun rights to Ohio citizens, but we may need to look into each case on an individual level to know if restoration is possible.
Conclusion
If you are dealing with a Domestic Violence conviction on your record, or any other criminal conviction in Ohio, feel free to contact Dearie, Fischer and Martinson for expert legal help. If you are still fighting a criminal case, now would also be a good time to contact an attorney. DFM law is always here to help.
