How Domestic Violence Charges in Florida Can Affect Your Employment
Allegations of domestic violence are often enough to tar someone as an abuser in the eyes of the press and the public. This often includes the accused person’s employer. Many private and public employers in Fort Lauderdale are reluctant to hire or retain someone who has been convicted of–or even charged with–crimes involving domestic violence. And in many cases, the accused person has little if any recourse.
West Palm Beach Teacher Suspended After Multiple Domestic Violence Arrests
A recent story out of West Palm Beach offers a cautionary example. The local school board recently issued a two-day suspension for a middle school computer science teacher following three arrests for domestic violence over the past two years. According to a report in the Palm Beach Post, the first arrest came in April 2022, when a woman accused the teacher of throwing a phone at her head following an argument. The two were dating at the time. Prosecutors charged the teacher with domestic battery, and following a guilty plea, the court sentenced him to a term of probation and required him to attend anger management classes.
Five months later, police again arrested the teacher after he was seen grabbing a woman by the throat in a restaurant. The teacher was again charged with battery. Although he entered a guilty plea, the charges were dismissed after he completed another anger-management class.
The third and final arrest took place in June 2023. Prosecutors charged the teacher with headbutting his new girlfriend. Following yet another guilty plea for battery, the court placed the defendant on probation, which would have resulted in a dismissal had he not violated the terms of his release by getting charged with a new crime–driving without a valid license–a few months later.
As for the impact of these arrests and convictions on the teacher’s employment, the school board initially issued a “written reprimand” after he failed to report his first two arrests to his supervisor, as required by district policy. And in fact, the Post noted that none of the charges described above “disqualified” the teacher from remaining in the classroom. Nevertheless, in August 2024 the school board approved a two-day suspension, this time for failing to report his most recent arrest for driving without a license.
Contact a Fort Lauderdale Domestic Violence Defense Attorney Today
When it comes to handling employees accused of domestic violence, employers often tread carefully. For most workers, particularly in the non-union private sector, employment is “at-will” under Florida law. This means an employer can effectively dismiss an employee for any reason, or even no reason at all. But if a company has formal policies in place to handle accusations against employees, failing to follow those procedures may give the employee legal recourse if they are abruptly fired following an arrest.
One thing is certain. If you are arrested on domestic violence charges, you need to consider the potential impact it will have on your employment and other aspects of your life. Working with an experienced Fort Lauderdale domestic violence defense lawyer is critical. Call Haber | Blank LLP today at 954-767-0300 to schedule a consultation.
Source:
usatoday.com/story/news/education/2024/09/12/florida-teacher-suspended-after-3-domestic-battery-charges-in-3-years/74916109007/
