As October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, it seems like an appropriate time to talk about some of the cases they handle, as well as some of the tell-tale signs of domestic violence.

Statistics about domestic violence in Florida

Photo by Ben Pollard.

In Florida, there are 42 certified domestic violence shelters, which operate 24 hours a day, offering services to those needing protection. In 2015, Florida Department of Law Enforcement reported that there were 107,666 incidences of domestic violence, leading to 66,276 arrests. The Florida Domestic Violence Hotline received 27,587 calls, and the 42 Florida domestic violence shelters housed 16,362 survivors and their children. Clearly domestic violence is a more common problem than some realize.

How to identify domestic violence

According to the Florida DCF, here are some questions you can use to find out whether you or someone you know is currently suffering domestic violence. Does the person in question:

• Isolate you from family and friends?
• Say things to insult you?
• Criticize your parenting skills?
• Take your money?
• Act as the primary decision-maker?
• Prevent you from developing your career?
• Physically harm you or threaten you with weapons?
• Threaten to commit suicide?
• Act like the way he/she treats you is your fault or you are over-exaggerating?
• Threaten to hurt your pets?

All of those can be signs of potential domestic violence, and if you or someone you know can say yes to any of those questions, it is worth getting in touch with someone who can help. Calling any of the hotlines on the Florida DCF’s web page can be a good place to start, as well as talking to a family law attorney in order to get an order of protection.

The most important thing is keeping yourself and those dependent on you safe, so make sure that you take every possible precaution to do so.

Source: https://www.myflfamilies.com/press-release/dcf-joins-florida-coalition-against-domestic-violence-recognize-domestic-violence

Florida Department of Children and Families Services

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The DCF’s goal is to shelter children who are in imminent danger of abuse, neglect or abandonment. In these cases, the child will be removed from their parent of legal caregiver if the DCF believe they are in danger. This often happens when the child’s parents use drugs in the presence of the child, in corporal punishment cases and when the child does not have health care provided to them in a timely manner. The DCF may shelter a child even if the state’s attorney doesn’t file criminal charges or if the criminal case is dismissed.

Florida DCF Investigations

DCF investigations can involve a number of methods. The situation is typically reported to the DCF and the reporter remains confidential. During investigation the police may threaten to take the children away if the parent or guardian under question does not cooperate. They may also have the other parent or boyfriend or girlfriend of the parent testify against the parent in question. The DCF may also question the child outside of the home, relatives or any other people in the child’s life.

Private Dependency Petitions

A private dependency petition is a judicial dependency case that is filed by someone other than the DCF and is filed when the DCF is taking too long to investigate or remedy abuse allegations. They are usually filed by the extended family of the parents but anyone with facts supporting the case can file one.

If you’d like to speak to a lawyer about a DCF case, contact us here.