Florida has a series of domestic violence laws intended to punish abusers. A criminal defense attorney in Miami Dade can explain that these crimes are very serious and carry serious criminal penalties. Additionally, a criminal defense attorney in Miami Dade can explain other consequences of being convicted of a crime of this nature.

Domestic Violence Crimes 

In Florida, domestic violence can be categorized in a number of ways. This includes assault, aggravated assault, battery and aggravated battery. Additionally, it includes sex-related crimes such as sexual battery and sexual assault. Domestic violence can also include stalking, false imprisonment or kidnapping. What defines domestic violence is a crime that results in the victim’s physical injury or death that is committed by one family or household member against another such person.

Family or Household Member Defined 

According to Florida domestic violence laws, a family or household member includes a spouse, a family member related by blood or marriage, people who cohabitate and people who have a child together even if they were never married. Besides the last description, the other individuals must have resided together at some point.

Consequences of Conviction 

Individuals convicted of domestic violence face serious jail time. Additionally, they are often ordered to attend a batterer’s intervention program. Additionally, a victim of domestic violence may ask for an order of protection to prevent the accused abuser from contacting the victim. If granted, such an order may award exclusive use of the shared home to the victim and require the alleged abuser to pay child support until the order expires. An order of this nature can also have a detrimental effect on a parent who must abide by it, including having custodial or visitation rights affected.