Interfering With The Reporting Of Domestic Violence In Washington
INTERFERING WITH THE REPORTING OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
What is required to charge you with Interfering with the Reporting of Domestic Violence?
Interfering with a report for domestic violence is made a crime under RCW chapter 9A.36.150. This crime can be charged when you have been accused of a crime of domestic violence, and are also accused of interfering or attempting to interfere with the alleged victim making a report of the crime to 911 for either law enforcement intervention or medical services.
Domestic Violence Charges
As you can see, the commission of a domestic violence offense is an element of this crime, so to be charged with this offense you must have also been accused of committing a crime of domestic violence. Many types of crimes can be charged as a domestic violence offense. The term “Domestic Violence” is a legal term, it is not a description of a type of crime. If a crime is labeled as domestic violence, it means that there is a relationship between the parties; which can be a dating, roommate, or familial relationship. For a detailed overview of what makes a charge a domestic violence charge, and what the consequences are, please read our article on them, here.
What are the potential consequences of a charge for Interfering with the Reporting of Domestic Violence?
Interfering with a Report for Domestic Violence is a gross misdemeanor, which means it has higher punishments than a regular misdemeanor. It is treated more seriously because of the domestic violence component.
Potential consequences for this charge include:
Jail Time
For a gross misdemeanor the possible jail time is 0-364 days
Some alternatives to jail are community service, or electronic home monitoring
Probation
For a gross misdemeanor the probationary period is 5 years
Fines and Restitution
For a gross misdemeanor the possible fines range from $0-$5000
Restitution is reimbursement to the victim and may vary, it is considered when the victim requests it.
Classes
You may be subject to classes, for example domestic violence classes, anger management or drug and alcohol classes
No Contact Order
Courts commonly issue no contact orders in domestic violence cases, and can do so even over the victim’s objections
Loss of Firearm Rights
A conviction for a domestic violence charge can cause you to lose your right to possess a firearm for life
Read more about consequences of domestic violence charges here.
WHAT CAN I DO ABOUT A CHARGE FOR INTERFERING WITH THE REPORTING OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE?
What should I do if I am accused of Interfering with a Report for Domestic Violence?
If you are being accused of a crime or are subject to a law enforcement investigation, please read more about your options here. Even if charges have not been filed yet, there are things an attorney can do to help. Most importantly, in some cases we can work to stop those charges from being filed. If you are in this situation you can schedule a free consultation here.
What should I do if I am charged with Interfering with a Report for Domestic Violence?
If you have been charged and given a court date, you absolutely will need an attorney’s help to fight those charges. Read more about what to do if you have been arrested here, or charged with a crime here.
What if the alleged victim wants to drop the charges against me?
We have addressed this issue in detail in our article, here. However, the short answer is that the alleged victim cannot make the charges go away. Only the district attorney has control over whether or not charges will be filed, and you will need an attorney’s help to fight them on that. That being said, we can work with the district attorney to stop them from filing charges against you, and tell you how the victim’s participation, or lack thereof, in the case against you can impact your case.
Can I get my case dismissed?
The answer to this question will completely depend on the facts of your case. In any case a dismissal of the charges is the best case scenario, and there are multiple ways of getting one - outright, by completing a diversion program, or by winning a trial. With this particular charge, if they are not able to prove the underlying domestic violence charge then you can get a dismissal that way, because the domestic violence charge is a required element of this charge.
