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Domestic Violence Defense by State

Pick your state. Domestic-violence cases carry state penalties plus a federal firearms ban under

Lautenberg

Plain language

A federal law (18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(9)) that bans gun possession after a misdemeanor domestic-violence conviction — separate from any state penalty.

. Penalty ranges and enhancements change at the state line.

AlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontVirginiaWashingtonWest VirginiaWisconsinWyoming

From arrest to resolution

The same stages run in every state on the criminal side. A civil protective-order proceeding may run in parallel; that has its own timeline.

  1. Arrest and booking

    Statements taken, photos of any injuries, 911 audio collected, ride to the station.

  2. Civil protective order window

    Now

    A separate civil proceeding can run in parallel. The deadlines and the courthouse are different.

  3. Arraignment (first court date)

    Charges read, plea entered, no-contact conditions usually set here. Usually within 24-72 hours of arrest.

  4. Pretrial motions and discovery

    Your side gets the police report, the medical records, any video, and the witness list. Recantation, self-defense, or charge-level motions get filed here.

  5. Plea, dismissal, or trial

    Most cases end here. A plea, a reduction to non-DV charge, a dismissal, or a trial date.

Domestic Violence Defense Guides

In-depth articles in the Domestic Violence Defense series — each builds on the others.

Domestic Violence Charges: What Every Defendant Needs to Know [2026]

Facing domestic violence charges? What the charge actually means, the collateral consequences most defendants do not see coming, and the questions to bring to your attorney this week.