Criminal Defense
Your Trusted Domestic Violence Attorney in Indiana
A Domestic Violence Arrest Can Upend Every Part of Your Life
Domestic violence charges are among the most aggressively prosecuted criminal matters in Indiana. Prosecutors treat these cases seriously, and the consequences of a conviction extend well beyond the criminal penalties themselves. A domestic violence charge can affect employment, housing, firearms rights, immigration status, and — critically for many clients — the outcome of an ongoing or future family law matter.
Domestic violence occurs under Indiana law when a person attempts to control another person through physical threats, stalking, harassment, or assault. The charge is not limited to married couples. People involved in domestic violence situations can be married, separated, divorced, living together, or dating. The relationship between the parties shapes how the charge is filed and how aggressively it is pursued, but the legal exposure is serious across all of those contexts.
A domestic violence arrest is not a conviction — and having an experienced criminal defense attorney in Evansville on the case from the earliest stage is the most important step any accused person can take.
Our Approach
How Ziemer & Ziemer Handles Domestic Violence Defense Cases
Understanding What the State Will Try to Prove
Indiana prosecutors pursue domestic violence charges with determination, and their approach typically relies on a combination of victim statements, witness accounts, physical evidence, and law enforcement observations from the scene. Ziemer & Ziemer examines the full evidentiary record from the moment of retention — identifying inconsistencies in statements, challenging the circumstances of the arrest, and evaluating whether the evidence the state intends to present actually supports the charge as filed.
Domestic violence allegations are sometimes made during emotionally charged disputes, separations, or custody conflicts, and the initial version of events presented to police does not always reflect the full picture. Ziemer & Ziemer gives every case the level of attention it deserves rather than treating a domestic violence charge as something to be quickly resolved with a plea.
What a Domestic Violence Conviction Can Cost
The consequences of a domestic violence conviction in Indiana can include:
- Jail time and probation
- Mandatory domestic violence intervention programs
- A permanent criminal record affecting employment and professional licenses
- Loss of the right to possess a firearm under federal law
- An order of protection that restricts access to a shared home or family members
- Significant negative impact on child custody proceedings
- Immigration consequences for non-citizen defendants
These consequences do not all wait for a conviction. An arrest alone can trigger protective orders and custody disruptions that take months to resolve even when the underlying charge is eventually dismissed or reduced.
Sole custody means one parent holds primary legal or physical custody. The other parent typically receives parenting time, but one parent carries the decision-making authority or the child primarily resides with one household.
Joint custody means both parents share legal or physical custody, or both. Joint arrangements require a workable level of communication and cooperation between parents. Indiana courts can order joint custody even when one parent objects, if the evidence supports it as the best arrangement for the child.
WHY NOT GO IT ALONE
Why Domestic Violence Cases Require Experienced Representation
Domestic violence cases are not straightforward criminal matters that can be managed without legal counsel. Prosecutors assigned to these cases are experienced, prepared, and motivated to secure convictions. They are accustomed to defendants who minimize the charges, comply with initial conditions, and hope the matter resolves quietly — and they are experienced at preventing that from happening on terms favorable to the defendant.
An unrepresented defendant in a domestic violence case is at a significant disadvantage from the moment of arraignment. Having an attorney who has spent time in domestic violence courtrooms, understands how these cases are built, and knows what it takes to challenge the state’s evidence effectively changes the outcome of these cases.
WHY NOT GO IT ALONE
Should a DUI Charge Ever Just Be Pled Out?
Many people facing a first DUI charge assume the evidence is overwhelming and that pleading guilty is the fastest way to put the matter behind them. That assumption is often wrong. Breath and blood test results can be challenged. Traffic stops can be scrutinized for constitutional compliance. Prosecutor offers made early in a case are frequently not the best outcome available to a represented defendant.
Accepting a plea without having an attorney review the evidence, identify the vulnerabilities in the state’s case, and negotiate from a position of legal knowledge leaves significant outcomes on the table. The difference between a conviction and a dismissed or reduced charge can follow a client for decades.
WHY ZIEMER & ZIEMER
