A conviction may result in up to one (1) year in county jail, a fine of up to $1,000.00, or both. Alternatively, the court may impose one (1) year of supervised probation or a combination of both jail time and probation. You may also be required to attend and successfully complete counseling and treatment programs for issues such as battery intervention, anger management, impulse control, family relations, and parenting skills.

If you are residing in New Mexico on an immigration status, an admission of guilt or a trial conviction may be sufficient to trigger the deportation process or negatively impact your immigration status. If you are facing a criminal domestic violence allegation while on an immigration status, it is highly advisable to retain an immigration attorney in addition to your criminal defense attorney so they can work together to mitigate any potential immigration consequences.

A conviction for a domestic violence crime will prohibit you, under both state and federal law, from owning, transferring, possessing, or purchasing a firearm.

A domestic violence conviction may significantly impact your employment opportunities. Some employers have strict policies barring employment for individuals with any criminal conviction, while others specifically exclude those with domestic violence convictions. This is especially true for professional fields such as law enforcement, legal, medical, federal, state, and city employment, as well as jobs requiring security clearance or the ability to carry a firearm.

If you are currently involved in or may in the future face a divorce and/or custody battle, an allegation or conviction for a domestic violence crime can negatively affect the dissolution of your marriage and impact child custody and visitation arrangements. If you are currently in the midst of a divorce or custody dispute, we strongly recommend retaining a family law attorney alongside your criminal defense attorney to protect your interests.

Depending on the policies and procedures of the institution, a domestic violence conviction may disqualify you from receiving certain school loans, private loans, or state and federal financial aid.

A conviction for a domestic violence crime may affect your eligibility for acceptance into certain housing developments, depending on the requirements of the state, city, or private property owner.

For certain domestic violence offenses, a second accusation following a conviction may be charged as a felony.