Family Violence

• Male assaults female
• Common assault in a family violence context
• Breach of a Protection Order
• Assault with intent to injure, or injuring, in a domestic context
• Strangulation or suffocation charges

Family violence cases frequently involve disputed accounts between people who know each other well, and can raise particular issues around the reliability of evidence, the circumstances in which a complaint was made, and any history between the parties. Bail conditions in family violence matters are often more restrictive, given the emphasis placed on protecting complainants during a proceeding.

Family violence cases are treated seriously by the courts, and sentencing considerations include the impact on the complainant and any children involved, as well as the defendant's history. Options such as protective bail conditions, non-contact orders, and specialist family violence programmes may also be relevant to how a case proceeds.

Because family violence charges often carry immediate bail conditions affecting where you can live and who you can contact, early legal advice is important to understand your position and to ensure any bail application properly reflects your circumstances.