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The Florida Senate

2011 Florida Statutes

Title V JUDICIAL BRANCH
Chapter 39 PROCEEDINGS RELATING TO CHILDREN Entire Chapter
SECTION 504
Injunction pending disposition of petition; penalty.
F.S. 39.504
39.504 Injunction pending disposition of petition; penalty.—
(1) At any time after a protective investigation has been initiated pursuant to part III of this chapter, the court, upon the request of the department, a law enforcement officer, the state attorney, or other responsible person, or upon its own motion, may, if there is reasonable cause, issue an injunction to prevent any act of child abuse. Reasonable cause for the issuance of an injunction exists if there is evidence of child abuse or if there is a reasonable likelihood of such abuse occurring based upon a recent overt act or failure to act.
(2) Notice shall be provided to the parties as set forth in the Florida Rules of Juvenile Procedure, unless the child is reported to be in imminent danger, in which case the court may issue an injunction immediately. A judge may issue an emergency injunction pursuant to this section without notice if the court is closed for the transaction of judicial business. If an immediate injunction is issued, the court must hold a hearing on the next day of judicial business to dissolve the injunction or to continue or modify it in accordance with this section.
(3) If an injunction is issued under this section, the primary purpose of the injunction must be to protect and promote the best interests of the child, taking the preservation of the child’s immediate family into consideration.
(a) The injunction shall apply to the alleged or actual offender in a case of child abuse or acts of domestic violence. The conditions of the injunction shall be determined by the court, which conditions may include ordering the alleged or actual offender to:
1. Refrain from further abuse or acts of domestic violence.
2. Participate in a specialized treatment program.
3. Limit contact or communication with the child victim, other children in the home, or any other child.
4. Refrain from contacting the child at home, school, work, or wherever the child may be found.
5. Have limited or supervised visitation with the child.
6. Pay temporary support for the child or other family members; the costs of medical, psychiatric, and psychological treatment for the child incurred as a result of the offenses; and similar costs for other family members.
7. Vacate the home in which the child resides.
(b) If the intent of the injunction is to protect the child from domestic violence, the conditions may also include:
1. Awarding the exclusive use and possession of the dwelling to the caregiver or excluding the alleged or actual offender from the residence of the caregiver.
2. Awarding temporary custody of the child to the caregiver.
3. Establishing temporary support for the child.

This paragraph does not preclude the adult victim of domestic violence from seeking protection under s. 741.30.

(c) The terms of the injunction shall remain in effect until modified or dissolved by the court. The petitioner, respondent, or caregiver may move at any time to modify or dissolve the injunction. The injunction is valid and enforceable in all counties in the state.
(4) Service of process on the respondent shall be carried out pursuant to s. 741.30. The department shall deliver a copy of any injunction issued pursuant to this section to the protected party or to a parent, caregiver, or individual acting in the place of a parent who is not the respondent. Law enforcement officers may exercise their arrest powers as provided in s. 901.15(6) to enforce the terms of the injunction.
(5) Any person who fails to comply with an injunction issued pursuant to this section commits a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.
History.—s. 1, ch. 84-226; s. 1, ch. 91-224; s. 228, ch. 95-147; s. 10, ch. 95-228; s. 65, ch. 98-403; s. 28, ch. 99-193; s. 11, ch. 2008-245.
Note.—Former s. 39.4055.