Under Florida law, crimes against family or household members fall under specialized domestic violence laws which carry more severe penalties. You can trigger these domestic violence laws if you are or were married to or living with the victim as a family, if you have a child with the victim, or if you are related by blood or marriage. Violent crimes against a boyfriend or girlfriend generally do not qualify under the domestic violence. Furthermore, violent crimes against a roommate do not qualify under the enhanced penalties of domestic violence laws.

An example of the enhanced penalties can be seen in the case of a Simple Battery versus a Domestic Battery. If you are charged with a Simple Battery, intentionally touching or striking a stranger against his or her will, the penalty for this First Degree Misdemeanor is a maximum of one year in jail and a $1,000 fine. There is no minimum mandatory sentence. If, however, you are charged with a Domestic Battery for intentionally touching or striking a family member, the maximum remains the same, but there is a minimum mandatory sentence of an adjudication of guilt, one year probation, a 26-hour long batterer’s intervention program, and five days in jail.

We all know that domestic violence carries a terrible social stigma. Your good name in your community can so quickly become synonymous with "wife beater" or "spouse abuser." Furthermore, many times, with crimes of violence, you may never be able to seal or expunge it from your record. These offenses can literally haunt you for the rest of your life.

If you are charged with a crime of Domestic Violence, it is critical that you contact The Law Offices of Alexander Dombrowsky as quickly as possible. Let Alexander Dombrowsky's expertise work to get you the best possible outcome to your legal situation.