Fresno Domestic Violence and Abuse Laws

Fresno domestic violence law states that domestic violence is a crime.  Criminal code section 273.5 requires anyone convicted of these crimes to serve jail time and to participate in a one-year treatment program for batterers.  In order to be arrested, section 273.5 requires the situation to meet the following criteria:

• The partners must be married, living together, or have a child together
• The victim must have visible injuries

In spite of these specific requirements, the Superior Court of California, County of Fresno cites a much broader range of acts that can be considered under Fresno domestic violence law, such as:

• Physical acts, including kicking, punching, shoving, choking and more
• Sexual acts, including forcing or pressuring sexual acts, even if the parties are married
• Emotional acts, including displays of excessive jealousy, playing mind games, causing feelings of worthlessness, and isolating the victim from friends and family
• Verbal abuse, including name calling, insulting, and threating the victim
• Financial control, including withholding money, controlling the ability to meet basic needs, and barring the victim from working
• Destructive acts, including destroying property and harming pets

In Fresno, domestic abuse law cases are tried in specialized domestic violence criminal courts, with all cases overseen by judges who have experience and training in handling such trials.  This is why it is critical that anyone charged with violating domestic violence law in Fresno—even if the charges seem minor—seek the assistance of an attorney experienced in the specialized nature of California domestic abuse law.

The Law Office of Rick Berman is a Fresno-based law firm with more than 50 years combined experience representing individuals in connection with Fresno domestic abuse law matters and can often prevent criminal prosecution.  Contact us to speak to an attorney in person and set up a consultation.