If you choose to ignore it, the judge can find you in contempt and issue a warrant for your arrest. Some people arrested for domestic violence crimes are offered the opportunity to participate in a treatment program through pre-trial diversion. These programs are designed to provide education, counseling, and treatment to individuals who commit acts of domestic violence. If an offender is accepted into the diversion program and successfully completes it, the charges will be dropped. Offenders who plead guilty or are found guilty are sentenced by the judge.
Judges have great latitude in sentencing misdemeanor offenders.
Sentences may range from small fines to jail terms. Many offenders receive probation and may be required to participate in a treatment program. In deciding the sentence, the judge often considers the circumstances of the case, the offender's past record, and the impact of the crime upon the victim. My abuser has threatened to take our children away. The natural parents of a child have equal custody rights unless a court has stated otherwise.