Category Archives: Criminal Defense
Myths About Domestic Violence In Florida
The concept of domestic violence is sometimes a difficult one for the average person to understand. Historically and colloquially, it is associated solely with marital violence, and almost exclusively with physical violence (as opposed to other types). For some, it may even be associated with other characteristics such as gender, class, or national origin…. Read More »
Changes To Florida Drug Laws Can Affect Teens
In most years, Florida’s legislature will make at least some changes to the state’s criminal law. This year’s changes include the creation of a new drug offense that can place your teenager in serious legal trouble if they are not careful. Fentanyl is a serious problem affecting Floridians, and law enforcement takes a very… Read More »
Male Victims Of Domestic Violence
When the average person thinks of a crime of domestic violence, they are likely to imagine a male victimizing a female. However, men do experience domestic violence, and if a man is not aware of that, it can cause real mental and physical harm to them, placing them in a situation they may feel… Read More »
Can My Social Media Harm My Domestic Violence Defense?
It is all too common nowadays for a person who has been involved in a domestic dispute to vent about it on social media. Very often, that is the end of it – but if this happens in a moment where someone has been charged with an actual crime of domestic violence, that moment… Read More »
Is A Domestic Violence Injunction Worth It?
The conventional wisdom often given to a victim of domestic violence is to obtain a domestic violence injunction (DVI, also called a restraining order) if possible, given that it ostensibly provides protection in the event that an alleged abuser tries to harm them further. While this is often true, it does not address the… Read More »
Have You Been Charged With A Florida Domestic Violence Crime?
Domestic violence in Florida is defined as any criminal offense resulting in “physical injury or death” to a victim who shares a particular type of relationship with the alleged perpetrator – for example, a spouse, ex-spouse, or unmarried co-parent, among others. If you have been charged with this type of crime, it is crucial… Read More »
Can You ‘Stand Your Ground’ During A Domestic Dispute?
Florida’s ‘stand your ground’ law has had a somewhat controversial past, being used to justify killings some saw as unlawful, or even used as a metaphorical stick with which to beat defendants. However, if you have been a victim of domestic violence, knowing the intricacies of the ‘stand your ground’ law can help you… Read More »
Florida’s Domestic Violence Definition
Unlike in other states, which create a specific cause of action for ‘domestic violence’ or ‘intimate partner violence’ (IPV), Florida law does not recognize a criminal offense as one of domestic violence immediately – rather, a crime is specified as a domestic violence offense either at charging or sentencing. This can be a bit… Read More »
Should I Plead ‘No Contest’ In A Domestic Violence Case?
Normally, when a person is accused of a crime, they have the option to either plead guilty or innocent to the charges. That said, there are a handful of other types of pleas that apply only rarely to criminal matters, but from time to time, will appear. One of those is pleading nolo contendere,… Read More »
How Does Domestic Violence Impact Florida Divorce?
Psychologists have defined a list of what they refer to as Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), designed to help pinpoint warning signs for children who may have future mental health-related issues. Domestic violence in the home makes the list, as does divorce. While this does not mean that a couple should ‘stay together for the… Read More »