A Domestic-Violence Arrest Changes the Rules Immediately.
No-contact terms, residence restrictions, evidence, and a separate injunction case may affect what you can do next. Understand the order before taking action.
DOMESTIC-VIOLENCE DEFENSE
Follow Every Release and No-Contact Condition
After an arrest, the court may impose no-contact, residence, firearm, travel, substance-testing, or other conditions. Read the written order carefully and comply exactly unless the court modifies it.
Do not rely on an invitation, apology, text, third-party message, or the other person's consent as permission to violate a court order. Do not ask friends or relatives to carry messages. Preserve communications without responding if a response could violate a condition.
Criminal Charges and Injunctions Are Different Proceedings
A criminal case is prosecuted by the State. A petition for an injunction is a separate civil proceeding that can impose restrictions of its own. The matters may involve overlapping evidence, so positions taken in one can affect the other.
The person who reported an incident does not control whether the State files or continues a criminal case.
Evidence We Examine
911 calls, body-camera video, dispatch records, and officer observations
Statements, recordings, messages, and social media
Photographs, injuries, medical records, damaged property, and scene evidence
Witnesses, timing, location, access, and prior communications
Claims of self-defense, defense of another, accident, or misidentification
Release orders, injunction petitions, hearing dates, and alleged violations
Domestic-Violence Cases Are Not Limited to Battery
Florida's statutory definition can include assault, aggravated assault, battery, aggravated battery, sexual offenses, stalking, aggravated stalking, kidnapping, false imprisonment, and other criminal offenses resulting in physical injury or death between qualifying family or household members.
Experience Relevant to Domestic-Violence Defense
Attorney Dan Hassinger has practiced law for 15 years and previously served 15 years in law enforcement. That combined legal and investigative experience informs review of scene evidence, witness accounts, interviews, body-camera evidence, injuries, statements, arrest decisions, and the gap that can exist between an initial allegation and the complete record.
What Happens After You Call
We obtain basic names and complete a conflicts check.
Dan reviews the charge, custody or release status, no-contact terms, residence issues, court date, and any injunction papers.
You receive clear instructions on compliance, preservation, communications, and the next hearing.
If representation begins, the scope and fee are confirmed in writing.
Domestic-Violence Defense FAQs
Can the other person drop the charge?
The reporting person can communicate with the prosecutor, but the State controls the criminal prosecution. Do not contact or pressure anyone to change a statement or request dismissal.
Can we communicate if the other person contacts me first?
Not if a court order prohibits contact. The order controls until the court changes it. Preserve the communication and obtain legal advice before responding.
What is the difference between a no-contact order and an injunction?
A no-contact condition may be imposed in the criminal case as a term of release. An injunction is entered in a separate civil proceeding. Either can impose serious restrictions, and both must be obeyed.
Can self-defense apply?
Potentially, depending on the facts and current law. Statements should be compared with injuries, physical evidence, video, witness accounts, timing, location, and the perceived threat.
Request a Confidential Domestic-Violence Case Review
Call (941) 313-2559 or send a brief message using the form below. Please do not include confidential information before a conflicts check.