CONSEQUENCES TO A RESPONDENT IN A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE MATTER
- An injunction may require no contact, limited time-sharing with children, supervised time-sharing, the respondent to leave the residence, and/or pay support for the minor children and/or the petitioner (depending on the circumstances).
- Under both state and federal law, the respondent is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition.
- Security clearances may be affected.
- Law enforcement officers or anyone employed in a position that requires the use of weapons may be affected.
- Current employment status or employment applications may be affected.
- Professional licenses may be affected.
- Entry into the military may be affected.
- Admission to schools, colleges, and universities and financial aid access may be affected.
- Some private landlords or homeowners’ associations may be able to use the injunction to deny the respondent a rental opportunity.
- Violation of a final injunction may affect a resident alien’s application for citizenship and may result in deportation if the respondent is not a citizen.
- Final injunctions are enforceable in all fifty states and all U.S. territories under the Full Faith and Credit Clause.
- Violation of a final injunction may result in arrest and charge of a first-degree misdemeanor for each violation with a maximum sentence of one year under Florida law.
- If the respondent stalks the petitioner who has an injunction against him or her, the respondent may be charged with aggravated stalking, a third-degree felony.
