With people being required to shelter-in-place and remain in their homes, tensions are certainly high. Coupled with fear and financial uncertainty due to decreased hours and job losses, and the situation is ripe for an increase in domestic violence.
While police are not making as many arrests out on the streets due to business closures and the lockdown orders that are in effect nationwide, domestic violence is still a crime for which people are being arrested and taken to jail.
Courts in Miami-Dade County, in fact, are still operating bond court, or first appearance hearings. This is considered a critical hearing as domestic violence defendants are not allowed, by State law, to post a bond prior to seeing a judge. This is because the judge must address issues such as a stay-away order from the alleged victim.
If you are a victim of domestic violence, you can still apply for a restraining order, or injunction, at any courthouse in Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach Counties. If you are a respondent, or the recipient of a restraining order/injunction, you can - and will - be served.
Domestic violence arrests are going up and it is important to understand how serious these accusations can be.
If you or a loved one are facing domestic violence charges in Miami-Dade, Broward, or Palm Beach, or you are applying for (petitioner) or have been served with (respondent) a restraining order/injunction, call me.