Domestic Violence

Fort Lauderdale Domestic Violence Defense Attorney

If you have been arrested for domestic violence in Florida, you probably have questions about how the charge could affect your life. At the Law Offices of Patric L. Jones in Fort Lauderdale, we offer a free initial consultation by phone or in person to answer your questions and discuss your legal options.

The criminal charge in domestic violence cases in Florida is misdemeanor battery. In addition, when you are arrested for domestic violence, in almost all cases you will also be subject to a restraining or no-contact order.

A restraining order against you means that you cannot speak to or have any contact with the alleged victim. You will not be allowed to return to your home if the victim lives there, even to get clothes or other needed items. You may not be able see your children except under a court-approved visitation agreement. If you contact your alleged victim and the court finds out, you can have your bail or bond revoked and be sent to jail. You can also be charged with tampering with a witness or victim. Therefore, only your lawyer should attempt to contact the victim.

The victim in a domestic violence case is usually a spouse, girlfriend or boyfriend. If the alleged victim in your case is still interested in continuing the relationship with you, attorney Patric Jones may be able to get the no-contact order dismissed. Criminal charges of domestic battery in Broward County can sometimes also be dismissed if the victim is cooperative, but not always. If the charges are dismissed, your record could be cleared through expungement.

If you are falsely accused of domestic violence, attorney Patric Jones can defend you aggressively in court. Unfortunately, it is common in divorce cases for one spouse to make false allegations of spousal or family abuse against the other in order to gain the upper hand in a child custody dispute.

If you are guilty of the charges and the state can prove its case, it is usually best to focus on sentencing options that Florida offers in an attempt to limit the damage to your family and your life. For example, you could be sentenced to probation—typically a year—and be ordered to attend classes in anger management or to a domestic violence batterer intervention. If you cooperate, you might substantially improve your family dynamics. If you do not, however, it is a violation of your probation and you would be sent to jail to serve your sentence.

Free consultation with a lawyer by phone or in person: To discuss your domestic violence case with attorney Patric L. Jones, call 954-779-1994 or contact our law firm by e-mail. We serve clients throughout Broward County, Florida, from our office in Fort Lauderdale and our satellite office in Coral Springs.