Under Florida law, domestic violence charges can be brought against anyone who lives with someone else in many different situations. Husbands and wives face charges of domestic violence. The same goes for fathers and sons, brothers and sisters, girlfriends and even roommates.
All it takes is for an argument to get out of hand!
When the police arrive, they are ready to make an arrest. Because police respond to word of mouth, witness statements, and evidence found at the scene, they don't always get the right call. Often the person who contacts the police is the one who goes to jail!
One of the things that makes domestic violence charges so hard is that it isState of Floridathat's the one who charges -Notthe alleged victim of a crime. Even if the alleged "victim" chooses not to press charges, prosecutors can and will continue to aggressively pursue criminal prosecutions. Once you get out of jail, you should hire attorney Shon Douctre who will assist you in taking the proper legal steps to try to have the charges dropped and your case sealed.
Can Domestic Violence Charges Be Dropped?
atPrivate Attorney, LLC, in Orlando, we have the experience to protect your rights and freedom after a domestic violence arrest. If you've been accused of hitting someone — or if someone you love is accused of domestic violence and you're wondering how to get the state to drop the charges — the accused can file a motionFREE and confidential case assessment to see your options.
We often hear our clients say that a loved one doesn't deserve the charge against him or her, but he/she may only need counseling (at most), not a criminal record. We understand what you are going through and there is hope. Please call us to discuss your goals.
Does a domestic violence charge come off your record?
If you have been arrested for domestic violence and the charges are reduced or dropped, Florida law allows a one-time option to seal or erase your criminal record. However, if you are convicted of domestic violence, you will most likely be banned from obtaining the arrest and having your record/criminal record cleared. Our deletion attorneys can assist you with this process aimed at clearing your name once the case is dismissed and improving your chances of future employment.
ATTORNEYS FOR INQUIRY AND INSTITUTION – ORLANDO, FLORIDA
WHAT IS AN INVESTIGATION?
A restraining order, also known as a restraining order, directs a person to comply with certain conditions and usually prohibits them from having contact with anyone. If a restraining order has been filed against you or a loved one and you need an aggressive attorney to fight it, please call NOW! After a restraining order is filed against you, a hearing will be scheduled very soon thereafter. At this hearing, the judge will decide whether the restraining order should be upheld, extended indefinitely, modified, or lifted. Therefore, it is very important to hire an attorney prior to this first hearing if you want to properly defend yourself.
On the other hand, some people change their minds and now want to drop, cancel, or deny a restraining order they may have filed against someone. If you wish, we are at your disposal! Please call us now!
According to Florida Statutes 741.28 and 784.046, there are four types of injunctions:
Domestic Violence:If the court finds that the applicant (the person seeking the injunction) is either a victim of domestic violence within the meaning of Florida law or has reason to believe that he or she is in imminent danger of being a victim of domestic violence become violence, the court may grant exoneration.
“Domestic Violence” is defined as any assault, aggravated assault, assault, aggravated assault, sexual assault, sexual assault, stalking, aggravated stalking, kidnapping, false imprisonment, or any criminal offense resulting in physical injury or death of a family member or household member other family member or household member.
Repeated Violence:"Repeated Violence" means two incidents of violence or stalking by the Defendant, one of which must have occurred within 6 months of the filing of the Petition, against the Petitioner or an immediate family member of the Petitioner.
Remedial measures may include ordering the Defendant to be restrained from committing violent crimes or ordering any other remedial measures the court deems necessary to protect the applicant, including injunctive relief or orders to law enforcement agencies as provided in this Section.
The provisions of the injunction remain in full force and effect until modified or terminated. Either party can apply to change or cancel the injunction at any time. This remedy may be granted in addition to any other civil or criminal remedy.
Dating Violence:"Dating violence" means violence between people who have or have had an ongoing and significant relationship of a romantic or intimate nature. The existence of such a relationship is determined based on the consideration of the following factors:
- A dating agency must have existed within the last 6 months;
- The nature of the relationship must have been characterized by an expectation of affection or sexual involvement between the parties; and
- The frequency and nature of the interaction between the people involved in the relationship must reflect that the people have been involved over an extended period of time and continuously over the course of the relationship.
The term does not include acquaintance violence or violence between persons engaged in ordinary fraternization in a business or social context.
Any person who has been the victim of dating violence and has reason to believe that he or she is in imminent danger of becoming a victim of another form of dating violence, or anyone who has reason to believe that he or she is in imminent danger of becoming a victim of an act of dating violence, or the parent or legal guardian of a minor living at home who is seeking an injunction protecting himself from dating violence on that minor's behalf has standing to sue in the district court sworn application for an injunction to protect against violence in dating.
Sexual Violence:“Sexual Violence” means any of the following incidents, regardless of whether criminal charges were filed, reduced, or dismissed by prosecutors as a result of the incident:
- Sexual battery as defined by Florida statutes
- A lewd or lewd act, as defined in Florida law, committed on or in the presence of a person under the age of 16
- Attracting or seducing a child as defined by Florida law
- Sexual performance of a child as defined by Florida law
- Any other violent crime in which a sexual act is committed or attempted
A victim of sexual violence, or the parent or legal guardian of a minor child living at home who is a victim of sexual violence, may make an application under penalty of perjury for a restraining order against sexual violence in the name of or on behalf of the minor child , if:
- the person has reported the sexual violence to a law enforcement agency and is involved in criminal proceedings against the defendant, regardless of whether criminal charges for the sexual violence were filed, reduced, or dismissed by the public prosecutor; or
- The defendant who committed the sexual violence against the victim or minor child was sentenced to a term of imprisonment in state prison for sexual violence and the defendant's sentence has expired or will expire within 90 days of the filing of the application.
The court may grant such remedies as the court finds appropriate, including an injunction prohibiting the defendant from committing acts of violence. The court may also order any other relief it deems necessary to protect the applicant, including injunctive relief or orders to law enforcement agencies as provided in this Section.
The provisions of the injunction remain in full force and effect until modified or terminated. Either party can apply to change or cancel the injunction at any time. This remedy may be granted in addition to any other civil or criminal remedy.
Contact A Kissimmee Drop Domestic Violence Lawyer
Call us to get started on your case407-965-1190. You could alsoContact us onlineto schedule a free and confidential consultation with an Orlando college student's DUI defense attorney on drug crime and DUI defense.
FAQs
Can you drop charges against someone before court Florida? ›
Victims can file a 'Waiver of Prosecution', stating your wishes for the charges to be dropped. Waiver of Prosecutions are notarized, sworn statements. It is also called a Request Not To Prosecute.
Can the victim drop the charges against? ›While a victim is able to file a complaint against the accused, they can also choose to no longer participate in the case, and thus request that the charges be dropped.
What happens if charges are dropped before court? ›What happens if charges are dropped before court? If the CPS decide to drop the sexual offence charges against you because the prosecution have offered no evidence in court, you will be formally acquitted.
Can you drop charges against someone before court? ›Although you may have been arrested or investigated by the police for a criminal offence it does not necessarily follow that you will be charged. In fact, with an experienced criminal defence solicitor on your side, the charges may be dropped before the court date.
Can a judge dismiss a case Florida? ›Under Florida Rules of Criminal Procedure 3,190(c) there are four different reasons the judge can throw out a case pretrial. The defendant is charged with an offense for which the defendant has been pardoned. The defendant is charged with an offense for which the defendant previously has been placed in jeopardy.
Can a plaintiff file a motion to dismiss in Florida? ›More often, motions to dismiss are filed under seal by the plaintiff or defendant, providing both sides a chance to file supporting papers before the appearance of the witnesses. There are three stages to a motion to dismiss process in Florida.
Can I withdraw a statement made to the police? ›If you withdraw your statement, the case might still go to court if the police think they have enough evidence to prosecute the suspect. If you want to withdraw your statement because you're worried about giving evidence, you should tell the police how you feel.
How do I write a letter to drop charges? ›Reiterate your trust in the defendant and your respect for the judge and their position in the matter. Not only do you want to express the defendant's regret in wrongdoing but also suggest ways in which they can better themselves and the community should their case be dismissed.
Why do lawyers drag out cases? ›Their goal is to drag the case on and pay out as little as possible. This earns more money for the attorney, who gets paid by the hour, and also can help frustrate the plaintiff into making a better settlement for them out of desperation.
Can police prosecute if victim doesn't press charges? ›When an assault has allegedly taken place, it is not always up to you as the victim if you want to press charges. In fact, even if you decide that you do not want to press charges from the outset, or you decide you no longer want to, the Crown prosecutor may still pursue the case.
What does drop the charge mean? ›
If criminal charges are dropped, there will be no trial, and no repercussions will be imposed for the alleged offense. If you are convicted and charged with a crime, the arresting officer will provide the prosecutor with information on your case.
What is one reason prosecutors may decide to dismiss a case? ›Inadequate Proof of Guilt
The evidence must show that you are guilty of the offense for which you are being prosecuted. For this reason, your charges may be voluntarily dropped before trial if the prosecution determines there is inadequate evidence to proceed with a case against you.
Tell the prosecutor you don't want to press charges.
Though the prosecutor decides whether to drop charges, a victim or key witness can have a significant impact on the case. If you say you aren't interested in sending the case to trial, there's a good change the prosecutor will drop the case.
If a prosecutor drops a charge against you, it means: he/she will no longer pursue the charge against you, the case does not advance to trial, and. you do not have to face any penalties for the alleged offense.
What makes a criminal case weak? ›a lack of evidence, few or no credible witnesses, mistakes in the criminal complaint, and. a valid legal defense for the defendant.
On what grounds can a case be dismissed in Florida? ›Under Rule 3.190, a Motion to Dismiss can be filed for a multitude of reasons, including, but not limited to, statute of limitations violations, pardons, failures to establish a prima facie case of guilt (factual insufficiencies), double jeopardy, prosecutorial immunity, discovery violations, prosecutorial misconduct, ...
How do I get a case dismissed in Florida? ›- The prosecution files a motion for the judge to dismiss the charges, and the judge must grant or approve of this motion.
- In other cases, the prosecution can unilaterally dismiss all of some of the charges against the defendant.
If the prosecution do not have enough evidence, they may drop the case before it goes to trial. Alternatively the case may be thrown out by the judge or magistrates, for example if key evidence is not available or if there is a reason why the defendant could not get a fair trial.
Can you file a motion to dismiss after filing an answer in Florida? ›A defendant making a motion to dismiss must do so before filing an answer or other responsive pleading, and the motion is generally due when the defendant's answer would have been due (see FRCP 12(b)).
How long do you have to respond to a motion to dismiss in Florida? ›However, a party may respond to a motion to dismiss, for judgment on the pleadings, for summary judgment, to exclude or limit expert testimony, to certify a class, for a new trial, or to alter or amend the judgment within twenty one days after service of the motion.
How do you get a judge to rule on a motion? ›
- Set a Status Conference. In Florida, either side can schedule a conference with the Judge. ...
- Call Judge's Office. ...
- Seek an Extraordinary Writ. ...
- Write a Letter. ...
- Check the Rules of Procedure.
You can add things to your statement if you remember them later on, but you cannot withdraw it.
Do you have to go to a police station to give a statement? ›It could be at a police station, your home or at work. If you have difficulty understanding or speaking English, you can ask for an interpreter. You can also ask for the translation of any documents you need to read in court or to add to your statement.
What is Marsy's law in Florida? ›Marsy's Law seeks to give crime victims meaningful and enforceable constitutional rights equal to the rights of the accused. Some examples of the types of rights to which we believe all victims are entitled are: To be treated with dignity and respect throughout criminal justice proceedings.
What is a drop letter from an attorney? ›A disengagement letter is sent by an attorney or law firm to a client when they're withdrawing from representing them. The purpose of a disengagement letter is to provide notice and document the withdrawal in accordance with Rule of Professional Conduct (RPC) 1.16 Declining or Terminating Representation.
How do you write a letter to judge to reduce a sentence? ›The 5 most common tips in writing an effective leniency letter to a judge include: write a clear introduction, introduce yourself and establish credibility, provide reasons for leniency, tell a story, and. provide contact information.
How do you write a letter of intent to not press charges? ›I am the complaining witness against _______________________, the Defendant in the above referenced case. It is my wish and desire that all charges in relation to these matters be dismissed, that there be no further action taken thereon and I do not intend to pursue the prosecution of said Defendant.
How fast should your lawyer get back to you? ›In addition, you should also expect your attorney to call you back or return your emails promptly. If your attorney does not respond within one business day, they should tell you why they could not answer your question (this can include a heavy caseload or your lawyer being in court for a trial).
How often should your lawyer update you? ›There is no set formula for how often you will hear from your attorney. However, the key to a successful attorney client relationship is communication. Whenever there is an important occurrence in your case you will be contacted or notified.
Why do lawyers ignore you? ›There's bad news your attorney doesn't want to deliver. If your attorney is not experienced or efficient, they may have missed a deadline or made another mistake and aren't willing to confess their error. There could also be some bad news that is entirely outside of the attorney's control.
Do domestic abuse cases go to court? ›
Domestic violence cases may also be dealt with in a Specialist Domestic Violence Court (a type of Magistrates' Court that specialises in domestic violence cases). If the defendant is 17 and under then the case will be heard in a Youth Court, with specially trained judges or magistrates.
What happens if a defendant does not turn up to court? ›If you won't go to court, you may get a 'witness summons' from the court. A witness summons says you have to go to court. If you still fail to go to court without a good reason, you could be 'in contempt of court' and you may be arrested.
Can a victim ask the CPS to drop charges? ›Remember, you cannot ask the CPS to drop the charges without good cause. You might know you are innocent, or regret your actions, or have been reconciled with the victim. But the CPS will still say that justice must be done. The CPS cannot decide whether you are innocent or guilty – only the courts can do that.
What is the meaning of drop the case? ›to stop doing or planning something: drop a case/lawsuit/charge.
Can charges be dropped at an arraignment hearing? ›Judges generally do not have the authority to dismiss charges at either a preliminary or a formal arraignment. However, prosecutors can decide to dismiss charges at arraignment, but they will only do so if they have a compelling reason why the charges should be dropped.
What to do if you drop your phone and it won't charge? ›Often the issue is the small metal connector in the USB port, which may be slightly bent in a way that means it doesn't make proper contact with the charging cable. To fix this, switch your phone off, and remove the battery if you can. ... Then, put your battery back in, power on your device, and try charging again.
Can a victim drop charges? ›A victim does not have the power to drop charges. Charges are brought by the prosecutor, upon recommendation of a police officer.
What is it called when the prosecutor decides to drop the charges? ›Plea deal: The prosecutor could decide to drop charges if the defendant agrees to cooperate in another case. Usually, this is done in matters involving minor offenses. Some charges might also be dropped if the defendant agrees to plead guilty to one or more of any additional charges they faced.
What is it called when a prosecutor decides not to prosecute? ›Decision-maker
Nolle prosequi as a declaration can be made by a prosecutor in a criminal case either before or during trial, resulting in the prosecutor declining to further pursue the case against the defendant.
Victims can file a 'Waiver of Prosecution', stating your wishes for the charges to be dropped. Waiver of Prosecutions are notarized, sworn statements. It is also called a Request Not To Prosecute.
How do I get charges dropped before court date? ›
- Formal acquittal. ...
- Discontinuance. ...
- Lack of evidence. ...
- Evidence against you was illegally obtained. ...
- The prosecution is not in the public interest. ...
- To buy time to prepare for a later trial.
All valid legal cases will have basic similarities when it comes to case strength, regardless of whether the case is a criminal prosecution or a civil tort action. But, the primary element that all strong cases is indisputable provable evidence.
What 3 things must be proven in every criminal case? ›In general, every crime involves three elements: first, the act or conduct (actus reus); second, the individual's mental state at the time of the act (mens rea); and third, the causation between the act and the effect (typically either proximate causation or but-for causation).
What is the strongest type of defense to a criminal charge? ›A defendant may mount a defense by remaining silent, not presenting any witnesses and arguing that the prosecutor failed to prove his or her case. Frequently, this is the best and strongest way to proceed.
How do I get charges dropped before court date in Florida? ›- Show a Lack of Probable Cause. ...
- Show a Violation of Your Constitutional Rights. ...
- Negotiate a Plea Agreement. ...
- Cooperate with the Prosecution on a Bigger Case. ...
- Negotiate Suspension of the Case for a Pretrial Diversion Program.
Only a small number of cases end up in court, but as a victim or witness of a crime if you're asked to give evidence in court, you must go.
How do I drop court charges? ›- Formal acquittal. ...
- Discontinuance. ...
- Lack of evidence. ...
- Evidence against you was illegally obtained. ...
- The prosecution is not in the public interest. ...
- To buy time to prepare for a later trial.
Under the Revised Rules, only the following grounds may be raised as grounds for a Motion to Dismiss: (a) lack of jurisdiction over the subject matter; (b) pendency of action between the same parties for the same cause; and (c) cause of action is barred by prior judgment or by the statute of limitations.
What is it called when a prosecutor drops charges after filing them? ›If a prosecutor drops charges after filing them, it is called. C. nolle prosequi. The main function of the primary hearing is to.
What happens if a victim retract their statement? ›If you withdraw your statement, the case might still go to court if the police think they have enough evidence to prosecute the suspect. If you want to withdraw your statement because you're worried about giving evidence, you should tell the police how you feel.
Who gives evidence first in court? ›
The evidence at a trial usually starts with the prosecution witnesses and is then followed by the defence witness. It is the role of the prosecution lawyers to prove the case against the defendant.
How do you write a letter to judge to drop charges? ›Reiterate your trust in the defendant and your respect for the judge and their position in the matter. Not only do you want to express the defendant's regret in wrongdoing but also suggest ways in which they can better themselves and the community should their case be dismissed.
Can the complainant withdraw a case? ›If a complainant, at any time before a final order is passed in any case under this Chapter, satisfies the Magistrate that there are sufficient grounds for permitting him to withdraw his complaint against the accused, or if there be more than one accused, against all or any of them, the Magistrate may permit him to ...