Domestic violence includes acts of battery, assault, stalking, kidnapping, false imprisonment or any criminal act that results in physical injury or death of a family or household member by another family or household member. A family or household member is defined under Florida Law as spouses, ex-spouses, persons related by blood or marriage, or persons who reside together or have resided together as if a family. The family or household members must currently reside together, or have resided together in the past in the same single dwelling unit. The residence requirement does not apply to individuals who have a child in common.
A domestic violence conviction carries the risk of certain minimum sanctions that may apply in your case.
Some common sanctions that will apply if you are found guilty are:
- A minimum jail sentence of five days (if the court finds that there was intentional bodily harm).
- A minimum probationary term of one year with a requirement that you complete a Batterer’s Intervention Program as a condition of probation.
Furthermore, if you are not a United States Citizen, and you are convicted of a crime which can be considered a crime related to domestic violence, you may be considered deportable and placed in removal proceedings.
Contact us if you are facing a domestic violence charge.
