Wyoming Domestic Violence Laws: Charges and Penalties

Wyoming domestic violence laws impose criminal penalties on individuals convicted of a charged crime. Domestic violence situations range in spectrum from simple altercations to serious threats and injury. Because domestic situations involve people who are related or intimately involved in each others lives, the situation can quickly become out of hand. People can become irrational and emotional in disagreements with people they are close to. This can create a heated situation that can get out of hand quickly.

Wyoming Domestic Violence Charges

Domestic violence can take many forms, thus the charges that stem from an incident will vary greatly. Some factors that will go into determining the specific charges that result from an incident include:

• whether their were injuries resulting from the incident
• if there were injuries, the severity of the injuries as well as the cause
• whether any weapons were utilized in the incident either in actuality or just to cause fear
• whether there has been a history of domestic violence in the defendant's past
• whether the defendant has a criminal record for other reasons that domestic violence

Each case is determined based on the facts of the charged crime(s). It is a good idea to discuss specific details of your case, including charges, with an experienced Wyoming criminal defense attorney to trouble shoot and move your case quickly through the system.

Wyoming Domestic Violence Penalties

Penalties for a Wyoming domestic violence conviction will vary according to the crime circumstances. The more severe the crime, the more serious the penalties. Some penalties a domestic violence defendant is likely to face if convicted in court include:

• jail time which can range from a few days to several years depending on whether the crime is classified as a misdemeanor or a felony
• probation may be issued in place of or in addition to jail time
• mandatory counseling or domestic violence education may be ordered
• restitution or repayment of any damages caused may be ordered

Each court has discretion to issue penalties in criminal cases that fit within the parameters of the law.

Getting Legal Advice

An experienced Wyoming defense attorney can help you to handle your domestic violence case by leading you through the criminal system confidently, helping you to prepare a defense to your case, helping you to plea bargain if the prosecution is willing to, and by answering your difficult questions about your charges and case. An attorney will advocate on your behalf to get you the best possible outcome in your Wyoming domestic violence case.