Chris Simons

A domestic violence charge doesn’t end when you leave the courtroom. That’s the part most people aren’t prepared for. The hearing happens. The decision gets made. And then life goes on — except it doesn’t, quite. Because what was decided that day follows you. Into job applications. Into custody hearings. Into housing searches. Into relationships

Walking into a courtroom for the first time is unsettling under any circumstances. Walking in for a domestic violence case — with everything that comes attached to that charge — is something else entirely. Whether you’re the person facing charges or someone trying to understand the process for a family member, the uncertainty is real.