This is an interesting question because what I see happening a lot is depending on where the person was arrested, that will dictate whether the City Attorney's office or the District Attorney's office prosecutes the case.
This can be important depending on who the particular prosecutors are involved with the case because of the potential for jail time when it comes to these domestic violence cases at the Airport court.
What you have to realize is that in Los Angeles County, the policy as of today, as I make this post, is that:
- when the police come out to a domestic violence call,
- if they see there's been any type of violence,
- they have a directive that they are to arrest one or both of the parties.
Injuries in Domestic Violence Cases
Then they're going to try to determine who the aggressor was. If one person didn't hit the other person and the other person has an injury and there's clear evidence that they were hit in some way, then that offending person is going to be arrested.
That person is going to be determined the aggressor. If on the other hand, both people were violent, now the police are in a difficult position. Now they've got to try to find witnesses.
They've got to talk to the parties and make a determination who was the aggressor between the two parties.
A lot of times they'll call the supervisor out to the scene and make a final call if it's a close call, and sometimes they get it wrong. Sometimes they arrest the wrong person.
Sometimes I've even seen them arrest both parties when they can't figure it out. Don't forget, it's all about cover your ass when it comes to these domestic violence cases in the Airport or LAX court.
They have to make sure that they don't just leave a situation that could fester into something more damaging where somebody gets seriously hurt or even killed.
Function of Police in Domestic Violence Cases
That's what they're protecting against. That's why they're arresting people, because if the police arrest somebody or both parties, and that person can post the $50,000.00 bail that's going to be required, it's now out of the police's hands.
They've done their job. So, nobody can boomerang back to them and say, what were you doing? Why didn't you arrest this person? Now look what's happened. It's your fault. That's what the police are looking to do. Realize that.
They may say their there to do justice, but really what they're trying to do is figure out who the aggressor was, arrest somebody and move on. Sometimes that ends up being an unfair situation.
They end up arresting somebody, making somebody post a $50,000.00 bail who didn't do anything criminal.
Criminal Defense for California Domestic Violence Charges
That's where you've got to have a criminal defense attorney by your side. I've been doing this for 27 years. I've worked for a prosecutor's office.
I've prosecuted people in the early 1990s and I've also worked for a Superior Court judge so I got to see how judges think. I didn't like either job.
I like the job of defending people, and since 1994, I've been practicing exclusively criminal defense.
I've handled thousands of domestic violence cases, many specifically in the Airport or LAX court. I know how these cases are prosecuted.
I know how to defend them. I know when it's time to take the case to trial. I know when it's time to try to seek a dismissal, and I know when it's time to negotiate the case.
So, if you or a loved one find themselves in the unfortunate position of being charged with a domestic violence case in the Airport court, pick up the phone. Ask for a meeting with Ron Hedding.
I'm here to help you. I enjoy what I do. I stand at the ready to defend you every step of the way.
Hedding Law Firm is a top-ranked criminal defense law firm located in Los Angeles County at 16000 Ventura Blvd #1208 Encino, CA 91436. Contact us for a free case evaluation at (213) 542-0979.
