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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

Charged with domestic violence? Here's what the next 72 hours look like, what the prosecution needs to prove, and where you still have decisions to make.

Domestic Violence Charges: What Every Defendant Needs to Know

Charged with domestic violence? Here's what happens next, what the process looks like, and the decisions that are still yours to make.

Domestic Violence Charges: What Happens Next

If you've been arrested for domestic violence, here's what the charges mean, what prosecutors must prove, and what defenses attorneys explore.

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.