Florida Family Law: Domestic Violence: The Other Side of the Issue

Accusations of domestic violence in the Fort Lauderdale area lead to increasingly harsh consequences. Domestic violence can include battery, sexual violence, stalking, false imprisonment, and other acts committed by someone in your household, your current or former spouse, or a person you have been romantically involved with in the past. Although most domestic violence cases in the Fort Lauderdale area probably involve current or former romantic partners, a child can batter his parent or vice versa. Florida and other states have passed ever tougher legislation to combat the problem in an effort to protect the victims of this often silent crime. Public awareness of domestic violence has grown substantially in Broward County and elsewhere. Florida police and family courts have implemented special procedures to govern this sensitive issue.

Domestic violence is an issue that continues to challenge law enforcement and judges in Broward County and throughout the State of Florida. Being accused of domestic violence has far-reaching ramifications. If your spouse notifies the police, you could be arrested and taken to jail if they believe that you were the primary aggressor in the dispute. Florida's mandatory arrest policy requires that one person involved goes to jail. You may have to post bail, attend numerous court dates, and be forced to miss work. You could go to trial, even if your spouse recants the story given to police, and could face a jail sentence or a hefty fine if you are convicted. The judge may enter a no-contact order that prevents you from going near your spouse, your children, and your home.

In addition to the criminal consequences, a domestic violence arrest or accusation has serious civil ramifications including the issuance of an injunction for the protection against domestic violence (commonly known as an injunction or a restraining order). The entry of an injunction will prevent you from returning to your home, contacting your family, and will require you to forfeit any firearms you may possess. The violation of a domestic violence injunction has potential criminal repercussions. If you have been accused of domestic violence recently or in the past, you should always be represented by an experienced Fort Lauderdale family lawyer.