Domestic Violence Convictions Can Impact Parole

Recent domestic violence assaults have brought up the role of abuse convictions in parole hearings. Last year, Devin Kelley shot 26 people at a Texas church before shooting himself. Kelly had been discharged by the Air Force following a domestic abuse conviction and a 12-month jail sentence. The Air Force gave Kelley a bad-conduct discharge, but did not record his conviction for domestic abuse. Had his conviction been reported correctly, Kelley would not have been able to purchase the guns he used in the church shootings.

In another high-profile case, OJ Simpson recently received parole from the State of Nevada. The parole board didn’t consider Simpson’s 1989 misdemeanor domestic violence conviction, which did not appear in a federal crime database. A Nevada lawmaker now seeks to have the state’s parole board consider domestic abuse convictions before granting parole.

Parole board officials cannot say whether knowledge of Simpson’s conviction would have changed their decision to grant Simpson a parole. It’s important to note however, that domestic abuse convictions may play an increasingly important role in parole decisions. In addition, under federal law, even misdemeanor domestic assault convictions can prevent a person from legally owning a handgun.

Los Angeles Domestic Violence Attorney

Domestic assault convictions can have serious and long-lasting impacts, even on unrelated matters. When you face domestic assault charges, hire an experienced domestic violence lawyer like Robert Helfend.

Mr. Helfend has more than 30 years of experience in criminal courtroom defense. He has provided exceptional, aggressive representation for thousands of Californians in both federal and state courts.

He understands the significant impact a conviction of any kind can have on your life. Even after your sentence is complete, a conviction can impact your ability to get a job, find a place to live, and fully enjoy your Constitutional rights.

Don’t settle for an inexperienced attorney. Contact Robert Helfend or call toll-free at (800) 834-6434, (805) 273-5611, (310) 456-3317 or (818) 591-2809 for an immediate consultation on your Ventura County domestic violence case.

Photo Credit: Russell Mondy, via Flickr.com