Domestic violence is a form of battery and is defined in Florida Statute § 741.28.

Domestic violence is classified as any criminal offense resulting in the physical injury or death of one family/household member by another family/household member.

With regard to family/household member, any two people whom currently reside together, formerly resided together, or have one or more children together without regard to current or former living arrangements may qualify under the statutory language. 

Offenses that qualify as domestic violence include, but are not limited to:

assault

aggravated assault

battery

aggravated battery

sexual assault

sexual battery

stalking

aggravated stalking

kidnapping

false imprisonment

Domestic violence is typically used as an aggravating factor for battery, and Bay County judges will normally require probation and anger management counseling if someone is adjudicated guilty of domestic violence battery, in addition to the normal battery penalties.

If you need legal counsel concerning domestic violence charges, please contact Ben Bollinger at the number to the left or below. A Panama City native with a law practice in Bay County since 1996, Ben Bollinger is familiar with the intricacies of local law and dedicated to providing top-notch defense against criminal charges.