Florida Violent Offense Defense A violent-crime accusation can change someone's life immediately. An allegation of assault, battery, aggravated battery, robbery, kidnapping or homicide can lead to an arrest, restrictive bond conditions, a no-contact order, the seizure of evidence, loss of employment and potentially years in prison.
But an accusation is not a conviction.
Florida law recognizes numerous different violent offenses, and the precise elements of each offense matter. Sometimes the central issue is not whether force was used at all. It is whether the force was legally justified.
Defend the Case has represented clients facing criminal charges for more than 20 years. Every violent-offense case deserves a defense based on the specific allegations, the evidence, the applicable law and the consequences facing the person accused.
Explore the step-by-step series Step — INVESTIGATE THE ALLEGATION + Accused of a Violent Crime in Florida? Here's What Happens Next + What Should You Do If Police Are Investigating You for a Violent Crime? + Can You Be Arrested for a Violent Crime Without Physical Evidence? + Why You Should Get a Lawyer Before a Violent-Crime Investigation Is Complete + The Police Report Isn't the Whole Story in a Violent-Crime Case + Step — IDENTIFY THE EXACT OFFENSE + What Violent Crime Are You Actually Charged With? + Assault in Florida: What Does the State Have to Prove? + Aggravated Assault in Florida + Battery in Florida: What Does the State Have to Prove? + Aggravated Battery in Florida + Battery by Strangulation in Florida + Domestic Violence Charges in Florida + Kidnapping in Florida + False Imprisonment in Florida + Robbery in Florida + Armed Robbery in Florida + Carjacking and Robbery Offenses in Florida + Homicide Charges in Florida + Step — EXAMINE THE EVIDENCE + What Evidence Can the State Use in a Florida Violent-Crime Case? + Witness Testimony in Violent-Crime Cases + 911 Calls and Violent-Crime Prosecutions + Body-Worn Camera Evidence in Florida Criminal Cases + Surveillance Video in Violent-Crime Cases + Text Messages and Social Media in Violent-Crime Cases + Medical Records and Injury Evidence + What If There Are No Injuries? + What If There Is No Video? + Step — ANALYZE SELF-DEFENSE AND TEST THE ALLEGATION + Self-Defense in Florida: What You Need to Know + Stand Your Ground in Florida + Defense of Another Person in Florida + Defense of Property in Florida + What Is Justifiable Use of Force in Florida? + What If the Alleged Victim Started the Fight? + What If Both People Claim Self-Defense? + How Witness Credibility Can Affect a Violent-Crime Case + What If the Defendant Initially Provoked the Confrontation? + Step — ANALYZE THE CONSEQUENCES + Florida Violent-Crime Penalties: What You Need to Know + Mandatory Minimum Sentences in Florida Violent-Crime Cases + Violent-Crime Convictions and Prison Sentences + Violent-Crime Convictions and Firearm Rights + Violent-Crime Convictions and Immigration Consequences + Violent-Crime Convictions and Employment Consequences + Step — DEFEND THE CASE + Can a Florida Violent-Crime Case Be Dismissed? + What Is the Burden of Proof in a Florida Violent-Crime Case? + Can a Violent-Crime Case Be Negotiated? + Preparing a Florida Violent-Crime Case for Trial + The Complete Step-by-Step Analysis of a Florida Violent Offense + Schedule a Free Consultation 