Divorce may be a headache, but when someone’s safety is on the line due to the risk of violence, things become more complicated. When necessary, spouses may apply for a civil injunction in order to keep a dangerous person at a distance from them during these proceedings or to provide security and safety.
Polk County resources indicate that there are five types of injunction, each with its own requirements.
Stalking violence
Anyone who has been the victim of two incidents of stalking may file a petition for this injunction in order to keep a person from willfully or maliciously harassing or cyber-stalking him or her.
Repeat violence
Injunctions for protection against repeat violence are orders that encompass more than the domestic or relationship settings. These may apply to neighbors, co-workers or students.
Dating violence
Those who see protection against someone they dated within the last six months may apply for this injunction. The expectation of affection or sexual involvement and frequent interactions help qualify for this particular petition.
Sexual violence
Sexual violence injunctions separate themselves from domestic violence injunctions because the victim has never lived with the offender. These injunctions apply when a victim is cooperating with a current criminal proceeding or if the offending person’s imprisonment term expires soon.
Domestic violence
According to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, authorities have reported over 100,000 domestic violence offenses annually. Injunctions for protection against domestic violence apply to those people who ever lived with the offending people as “family,” which is not limited to blood or marriage.
People who feel that their safety is at risk should consider these forms of restraining order, and Polk County officials may be able to help guide them to the right injunction for their case.
