Even compared to other types of criminal cases, domestic violence charges can be particularly challenging to handle, both personally and legally. If you are convicted of a domestic violence offense, you may not only face enhanced criminal sanctions but also experience significant restrictions on your rights and personal freedom while your case is ongoing, even if you have not yet been found guilty of anything in court.
Support from a skilled defense attorney can improve your chances of securing a favorable resolution from a criminal case, and it is essential to handle a domestic violence accusation proactively. Fortunately, you have the assistance of a dedicated Bradenton domestic violence lawyer at Goldman Wetzel to help pursue a favorable case outcome.
According to Florida Statutes § 741.28, someone commits domestic violence if they cause physical injury or death to a family or household member through any of the following criminal offenses:
In this context, the term “family or household member” includes not only relatives by blood, marriage, or adoption, but also current and former intimate partners, the co-parent of a child, and roommates or housemates who cohabitate in the same dwelling.
Notably, the state does not classify threatening a family or household member or putting them in reasonable fear of imminent harm as domestic violence for the purposes of criminal prosecution and sentencing. Furthermore, as a Bradenton domestic violence attorney can explain, legitimately acting in self-defense, in defense of others, in defense of property, or in a way protected by “Stand Your Ground” laws cannot be categorized as domestic violence even if it targets a family or household member.
Under FL Stat. § 741.283, anyone convicted of a crime classified as domestic violence that involved them intentionally causing physical harm to another person is subject to a mandatory minimum jail term of 10 days for a first-time offense, 15 days for a second conviction, and 20 days for third and subsequent convictions, in addition to whatever penalties are associated with the underlying criminal charges. If such an act occurs in the presence of a child under the age of 16 who is also a family or household member of the defendant, the mandatory minimum jail terms increase respectively to 15 days, 20 days, and 30 days.
Domestic violence convictions will also almost always lead to you losing the right to lawfully possess a firearm, having a court requirement imposed on you to complete a batterer’s intervention program, being subject to a no-contact order while your case is ongoing, and being denied bond before your first court appearance. Working with a seasoned domestic violence defense lawyer in Bradenton can be essential to minimizing the effects that these and other consequences linked to this type of charge have on your life, both now and in the future.
State law imposes harsh penalties on people convicted of domestic violence, many of which are associated uniquely with this type of offense. However, you still have rights as a defendant facing such an accusation, and support from knowledgeable legal counsel can be key to enforcing those rights as effectively as possible.
A Bradenton domestic violence lawyer from Goldman Wetzel can help you proactively contest your charge and maximize your chances of putting forth a successful defense. Call us today to set up a confidential consultation.
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