Hempstead Domestic Violence Defense Lawyer Advocating for the Accused
In Hempstead – or anywhere in Nassau County or on Long Island – if you are charged with a domestic violence crime, schedule a case evaluation at once with a Hempstead domestic violence defense attorney at the Law Firm of Gianni Karmily.
New York’s criminal laws do not differentiate between domestic violence-related crimes and offenses that do not involve domestic violence. For example, there is no specific statutory distinction between a domestic assault and an assault on a stranger.
What Constitutes a Crime of Domestic Violence?
However, both New York’s family courts and criminal courts have “concurrent jurisdiction” over crimes such as assault, sexual abuse, stalking, menacing, and strangulation when the crime victim is a member of the perpetrator’s family or household or when the perpetrator and victim:
- are married or divorced
- are related by blood or marriage
- are parents of the same child
- have been in an intimate relationship even if they are not currently living together
What Penalties May Be Imposed for Domestic Violence Convictions?
Convictions for domestic violence crimes often entail harsh penalties. Assault in the first degree, for example, is a Class B felony punishable upon conviction with up to twenty-five years in prison (with a mandatory minimum sentence of five years) and a fine of up to $5,000.
Lesser domestic violence crimes, as you would expect, are penalized less harshly. Assault in the third degree, for example, is a Class A misdemeanor punishable upon conviction with up to a year in jail and/or a fine of up to $1,000.
Apart from the criminal penalties, a conviction for a domestic violence crime can also negatively affect your:
- future employment opportunities
- right to carry or own a firearm
- right to earn and maintain a professional license
- parental rights, and if you are a divorced parent, the court’s child custody orders
- immigration status if you are not a U.S. citizen
What If the Charge Against You Is False?
Almost anyone can be accused of domestic violence, but every report of domestic violence is taken seriously by law enforcement agencies, because any failure to take domestic violence reports seriously can very swiftly lead to family tragedies.
New York’s police agencies and criminal courts have no tolerance for crimes of domestic violence. Nevertheless, judges, divorce lawyers, and criminal defense attorneys in New York know that charges of domestic violence are sometimes exaggerated or entirely fabricated.
In such cases, Hempstead defense attorney Gianni Karmily will work to uncover the truth about what actually happened and to discredit any phony domestic violence allegation.
How Will Attorney Gianni Karmily Handle Your Case?
Gianni Karmily understands that domestic violence charges can create difficult circumstances. He will discuss how the domestic violence laws apply to your own case, address your concerns, and develop a legal strategy to obtain the best possible result on your behalf.
After considering the details of a domestic violence charge, attorney Gianni Karmily will develop a defense that is appropriate, aggressive, and effective. If you are accused of a crime of domestic violence, no matter how strong the evidence presented againt you seems to be, fight the charge.
If the charge against you cannot be dropped, dismissed, or reduced, attorney Gianni Karmily can take your case to trial, explain to a jury what actually happened, and ask the jurors to return a not guilty verdict.
What Else Should You Know About Domestic Violence Cases?
While your domestic violence case is pending, a court may issue an order of protection against you. You could be barred from your home or even from seeing your children.
Also, while your domestic violence case is pending, avoid any confrontation with your accuser. Let your lawyer do the talking with the other side. Avoid posting on Facebook, Instagram, or any other social media platform. Anything you post could be used against you in a court of law.
You cannot overreact to an order of protection, but you can’t ignore it either. Discuss the implications of the protection order with attorney Gianni Karmily, and then adhere to its terms and conditions.
How Much Do Hempstead Domestic Violence Defense Attorneys Cost?
One of the first questions that may cross your mind is, “How much will a Domestic Violence defense lawyer cost?” The answer to this question can vary depending on a number of factors, including the complexity of the case, the severity of the criminal charges, and the attorney’s experience in criminal law.
More complex cases involving serious crimes will require more of your attorney’s time, which means these cases will typically cost more than less serious offenses.
Domestic Violence defense attorneys usually charge flat fees for their legal services. Most attorneys charge a flat fee to handle pre-litigation matters and another flat fee if the case goes to hearings or trial.
Hempstead, NY, is not the place to “Price Shop” for a Domestic Violence defense attorney. If you do that, you risk making a life-altering mistake that will haunt you forever. If a law firm charges less, always ask yourself the reason why they are a “Budget” law firm.
4 Reasons You Should Hire The Law Firm of Gianni Karmily, PLLC As Your Hempstead Domestic Violence Defense Attorney
1) LIFELONG DOMESTIC VIOLENCE DEFENSE ATTORNEY
Gianni Karmily is a lifelong domestic violence defense attorney serving Hempstead, Long Island, New York. His legal career has been dedicated to defending individuals accused of crimes and protecting the rights of people facing domestic violence prosecution.
Unlike attorneys who begin their careers representing the government before transitioning into private domestic violence defense, Gianni Karmily has developed his professional experience from the domestic violence defense side of the justice system. His defense experience began before he became an attorney. While attending law school, Gianni served as an intern for the Public Defender’s Office at the Legal Aid and Defender Association in Detroit, Michigan, gaining firsthand experience defending individuals accused of domestic violence offenses.
After returning to Hempstead, Long Island, New York, Gianni dedicated his practice to domestic violence defense litigation and the representation of individuals facing domestic violence charges. His practice encompasses the defense of individuals accused of a broad range of domestic violence offenses, including DWI and DUI-related offenses, hit and run, assault, domestic violence, larceny, theft, drug crimes, weapons offenses, traffic-related crimes, white-collar crimes, and other misdemeanor and felony charges.
Gianni’s practice is centered on New York domestic violence defense, New York Penal Law, Vehicle & Traffic Law, Domestic Violence Procedure Law, constitutional advocacy, domestic violence litigation, and protecting the rights of the accused. His defense-focused experience provides an operational perspective on domestic violence cases that is centered on identifying weaknesses in the government’s case, challenging evidence, examining investigative procedures, and determining whether constitutional or procedural issues may affect the prosecution.
Depending on the circumstances of a particular case, domestic violence defense representation may involve Fourth Amendment issues, search and seizure, suppression motions, unlawful searches, unlawful stops, probable cause, evidentiary challenges, procedural violations, constitutional defenses, and challenges to the sufficiency of the government’s evidence.
There may be a distinct advantage to an attorney you hire who has not been on the prosecution side because they have a totally different mindset not susceptible to institutional bias, which could make you subconsciously conditioned to think in a certain way and accept certain things that could put your client in peril.
A lifelong domestic violence defense attorney develops what can be described as aggressive skepticism—an active approach to questioning allegations, scrutinizing evidence, challenging assumptions, examining police and investigative procedures, and determining whether the prosecution can establish every element required to prove the charged offense. Overall, the ability to challenge authority and the domestic violence justice system as a whole is a core component that distinguishes domestic violence defense attorneys who have practiced exclusively on the defense side from those who spent part of their careers doing the opposite—prosecuting cases and putting people in jail.
With more than 10 years of exclusive domestic violence defense experience, the distinction is straightforward: Gianni Karmily is a domestic violence defense attorney whose professional identity is built around defending the accused. Domestic Violence defense is not a secondary practice area or a recent transition from prosecution to private practice. It is the focus of his legal career.
2) DIRECT ACCESS TO GIANNI KARMILY
Gianni Karmily is the principal attorney of the Law Firm of Gianni Karmily, PLLC. Clients facing domestic violence charges in Hempstead have direct access to the attorney responsible for their representation.
A domestic violence defense case should not be routinely passed from one attorney to another or from one paralegal to another without consistent attorney involvement. Gianni remains directly involved in the important aspects of each representation, including court appearances, case updates, client questions, evaluation of domestic violence charges, review of available evidence, and defense strategy.
Direct access means that the attorney defending the case maintains firsthand knowledge of the client’s circumstances, allegations, procedural history, legal issues, and potential defenses.
Gianni also regularly works with other experienced domestic violence defense attorneys, legal professionals, investigators, and other experts from different backgrounds when a particular case would benefit from additional experience or specialized knowledge. This allows the firm to maintain direct attorney involvement while also drawing upon additional resources when appropriate.
For individuals accused of a domestic violence offense in Hempstead, Long Island, New York, direct communication with the principal attorney is an important part of the domestic violence defense process that our firm does not take lightly.
3) LIMIT NUMBER OF CASES
The Law Firm of Gianni Karmily, PLLC limits the number of domestic violence defense cases it accepts each month so that each client receives individualized attention and Gianni can dedicate the time necessary to develop a thorough defense without cutting any corners.
The firm does not approach domestic violence defense as a high-volume process. Each domestic violence case requires an examination of its specific facts, allegations, evidence, procedural history, and applicable New York law.
Limiting the number of cases allows Gianni to dedicate adequate time to:
- Understanding the specific circumstances of the client’s case.
- Reviewing the domestic violence allegations and available evidence.
- Identifying potential constitutional and procedural issues.
- Evaluating applicable New York domestic violence laws.
- Investigating potential defenses.
- Communicating directly with the client.
- Preparing adequately for court appearances.
- Developing an individualized defense strategy.
- Pursuing an appropriate resolution based on the facts and circumstances of the case.
4) OFFICE LOCATED STEPS AWAY FROM THE NASSAU COUNTY COURTHOUSE
The Law Firm of Gianni Karmily, PLLC has offices located steps away from the Nassau County Courthouse, placing Gianni Karmily and his domestic violence defense practice immediately next to the courthouse where many Hempstead domestic violence matters are handled.
For a domestic violence defense client, having an attorney’s office steps away from the Nassau County Courthouse provides practical benefits throughout the representation. Domestic Violence cases involve arraignments, court appearances, conferences, hearings, motions, plea proceedings, compliance appearances, and trials, depending on the charges and circumstances of the case.
The firm’s proximity makes it convenient for clients to meet directly with domestic violence defense attorney Gianni Karmily before or after court proceedings, discuss developments in their case, review important legal issues, and communicate with Gianni when court-related matters arise.
For clients who may have multiple court appearances throughout a domestic violence case, having their attorney’s office steps away from the Nassau County Courthouse can also reduce unnecessary travel between the courthouse and their attorney’s office. It provides a convenient, easily accessible location for attorney-client meetings before or after proceedings.
For a person searching for a Hempstead domestic violence defense attorney, the combination of a lifelong focus on domestic violence defense, direct attorney access, and an office located steps away from the Nassau County Courthouse provides a direct connection between the attorney, the client, and the local court system.
When Should You Contact the Law Firm of Gianni Karmily?
Attorney Gianni Karmily will take the time to uncover the facts in your domestic violence case, question the witnesses, and provide an articulate, effective defense while staunchly protecting your rights and bringing your case to its best possible resolution.
Hempstead attorney Gianni Karmily was named by Super Lawyers from 2019 to 2024 as a “Rising Star in Criminal Law” in the New York Metro area. He graduated from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law, where he was President of the International Law Society.
To schedule a confidential case evaluation with the Law Firm of Gianni Karmily, PLLC, call our Great Neck office at (516) 630-3405 or our Hempstead office at (516) 614-4228.





