Far too many families in Florida and throughout the country are affected by domestic violence. Recognizing the damage done by these crimes, the justice system includes a variety of tools to both protect those harmed and punish residents who commit domestic violence. But not all disagreements between family members actually rise to the level of domestic violence as envisioned by the law. It is critical for residents who have questions about this issue to understand the basics of the applicable rules.
Florida Law
The Florida legislature defines “domestic violence” to be “any assault, aggravated assault, battery, aggravated battery, sexual assault, sexual battery, stalking, aggravated stalking, kidnapping, false imprisonment, or any criminal offense resulting in physical injury or death of one family or household member by another family or household member.” When a Florida resident believes they were a victim of domestic violence, an injunction for protection can be sought. In these cases a court orders an abuser to stay away from the harmed family member. Importantly, the victim can be anyone in the household, as the provision is not limited solely to disputes between spouses.Read More