Whenever an accusation of domestic violence is made in Florida, the police and prosecutor’s office are strongly biased towards taking the alleged victim’s side, even if his or her account of what happened is made up or exaggerated. If the police respond to a domestic disturbance call at a residence and find any evidence of an altercation, the accused batterer will be arrested and held in jail until he or she can meet with the judge, which often does not happen until the next day. In almost all cases, the judge orders a “no contact” provision, which means that the accused cannot make any direct or indirect attempt to contact the alleged victim. The reality of this order is that the accused cannot return home or see any children he or she has with the accuser. If the accuser and the alleged batterer work at the same location, the accused cannot go to work. Domestic battery charges are serious charges that, in Florida, cannot be expunged from an individual’s record. If you were arrested for domestic abuse, you should contact a qualified lawyer immediately. Whenever our firm receives a domestic violence case, we immediately begin an investigation to determine the true facts. This includes interviewing the complainant to determine his or her position and other witnesses to find out what really happened. In some cases, we recommend family counseling and work with psychological experts in resolving the disputes without going through the Court process in an effort to prevent a criminal record.

If you have been arrested for a domestic violence crime, call us at (850) 434-9304 or contact us online to discuss your legal options. Mr. Jenkins can be reached after hours at his home office at (850) 474-4182.