Penalties for Battery in Florida
The possible consequences for a battery conviction in the state of Florida can vary greatly, depending on the specific facts surrounding your case. Additionally, a judge is likely to consider additional factors such as your past criminal history, whether they believe you are a danger to the public, and more.
It is also important to remember that the penalties for a battery conviction in Florida will likely vary based on the severity of the charge. For example, battery charges may be a first-degree misdemeanor for simple battery, yet can also be a second- or third-degree felony offense for a charge such as aggravated battery. Contacting a battery attorney in fort lauderdale to begin forming your defense is your greatest chance at avoiding the more serious penalty and reducing your charge to a less serious offense.
Penalties for battery in Florida can include:
- 12 months in jail and 12 months probation for simple battery, a first-degree misdemeanor charge.
- Up to 5 years in prison and up to 5 years of probation for a third-degree felony charge, such as aggravated battery.
- Up to 15 years in prison and up to 15 years of probation for a second-degree felony charge.
Additionally, other penalties may include:
- Fines in varying amounts that increase with the severity of the charge. Fines may begin at $1,000 and can reach $10,000.
- A mandate to complete anger management classes or counseling.
- A mandate to pay restitution to the victim.
- The requirement to turn your weapons and firearms over to law enforcement.
- The loss of your voting rights for a specified amount of time.
- And more.
If you receive a conviction for felony battery or aggravated battery, you will likely experience a wide range of social consequences as well. For example, many places of employment and housing entities run background checks on all applicants before extending an offer. It is possible, and quite likely, that a violent felony charge will disqualify you from consideration for either the job or the residence. Additionally, for those with child custody issues, a violent felony does not bode well to the courts, and it may negatively impact your ability to see your children.
There may be certain professions, such as those caring for vulnerable populations, that you cannot hold at all. Furthermore, you may stand to lose professional licenses and certifications you already hold as the result of a conviction, such as a license to practice medicine.
There is no doubt that these wide-ranging penalties can have a profound impact on your life. However, there is hope. A battery attorney in Florida, such as criminal defense lawyer Matt Shafran at the Weinstein Legal Team, can help you form a defense and get the best results on your day in court.
Florida Statute Section 784.03
Florida state legislature outlines the official definition of "battery" as well as the many different penalties in statute section 784.03. The state legislature defines battery as "actually and intentionally touching or striking another person against the will of the other, or, intentionally causing bodily harm to another person."
Additionally, the statute states that should an individual have a prior criminal conviction for battery (including having admitted to the offense or pled guilty to the charge in a court of law), that any additional battery charge will be a third-degree felony offense regardless of circumstance.
Hiring a Defense Attorney for Battery Charges in Palm Beach & Broward County
If you are facing battery charges in Florida, call Matt Shafran at the Weinstein Legal Team today for a free consultation. The courts and prosecutor's office are already working diligently to prove you are guilty, you deserve the same aggressive legal representation fighting to show you are innocent. It may be possible to have your charges either significantly reduced or even dismissed entirely, but you must act quickly.
Mr. Shafran has years of experience serving as a battery attorney in Florida and will get to work on your case immediately. At the Weinstein Legal Team, we have a full team of private investigators and other experts at our disposal, and we will do everything in our power to help you receive a positive outcome in court.
