by Joe Wilhelm Jr.
Staff Writer
The current economy has made the public, businesses and government re-evaluate their financial position and this discussion has contributed to some people’s appearance in Duval County Court.
The County Court hears cases involving misdemeanor and criminal traffic offenses. The two types of offenses that most frequently go to trial in this court are domestic assault and driving under the influence (DUI). The State Attorney’s Office has recognized this frequency and has dedicated divisions in its office to prosecute the previously mentioned offenses.
While the occurrence of domestic violence offenses, which include aggravated assault, simple assault and threat/intimidation, has had slight deviations above or below 7,000 offenses a year in Duval County, it’s the cause of some of these offenses that have caught judges’ eyes.
“I haven’t noticed a change in the number of cases in County Court, but the reasons behind them seem to be developing a pattern,” said County Court Judge Dawn Hudson. “More and more of the domestic battery cases include reports of arguing over money or how money is spent in households.”
County Court Judge Ronald Higbee may not see money problems as the main cause of domestic violence cases he has presided over, but he does see it as a contributing factor to some cases.
“Causes of domestic violence include one party wants to end the relationship and the other doesn’t, drugs and-or alcohol and financial problems. They run the gamut,” said Higbee. “It’s difficult to point to one major cause.”
State Attorney Angela Corey is also starting to see financial problems contribute to the cases her office investigates and prosecutes. A recent case occurred at about 11 p.m. on August 4 in the Arlington area. Witnesses reported to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office that two adults, a man and a woman both of Jacksonville, where involved in a automobile chase that left the woman’s gray SUV flipped over on its side. Both she and the couple’s one-year old daughter were ejected from the vehicle as a result of the crash. A witness transported the mother and child to the hospital.
“It’s safe to say money issues were a part of what was going on in that situation,” said Corey. “A lot of times, drinking and drugs contribute to a situation like that, but we are starting to see the frustration of unemployment and a down economy in people.”
The ecomony has definitely contributed to the escalation in DUIs in Duval County. Recent numbers for DUI convictions in Duval County spiked at 2,146 in 2004 and continued to rise above the mark in 2006 and 2007, according to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.
Total Domestic Violence Offenses for Florida by County (Duval)
(Includes aggravated assault, simple assault, threat/intimidation)
2008 — 7,170
2007 — 7,151
2006 — 6,832
2005 — 6,961
2004 — 7,148
2003 — 7,141
2002 — 7,519
2001 — 7,246
2000 — 8,562
1999 — 7,211
1998 — 7,481
provided by Florida Department of Law Enforcement
DUI Convictions in Duval County
2007 — 2,248
2006 — 2,170
2005 — 2,074
2004 — 2,146
2003 — 1,232
2002 — 1,767
Provided by Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles
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