(BPI #012)

Practice Areas:  

• Preparation of the petition and filing procedures

• Linkages with comprehensive victim advocacy and services

• Standardized civil protection order elements

• Enforcement of orders from other state and tribal jurisdictions

Date of Implementation: Approximately 1991

Overview: Since 1991 the Citrus County Court has been helping petitioners, respondents and law enforcement navigate through the process of obtaining and enforcing  domestic violence civil protection orders.

Key Elements:

• Preparation of the petition and filing procedures. The injunction clerk reviews the petition and any other paperwork with the petitioner to ensure that all questions are answered and all blanks have been filled in or completed. The injunction clerk may suggest the petitioner expand upon allegations, which may assist the judge in his/ her review of the file.

• Linkages with comprehensive victim advocacy and services. There is a coordinated effort between the Clerk’ s office, the Sheriff’s Department, the local abuse shelter, the Domestic Violence Coordinator, and the State Attorney’s office to assist victims and provide information.

• Standardized civil protection order elements. The judges in Citrus County utilize a standardized form established by the Florida Supreme Court.

• Enforcement of orders from other state and tribal jurisdictions. The Sheriff’s Department will register out of state injunctions 24 hours a day 7 days a week. Parties are directed to the jail facility and are required to provide a certified copy of the injunction at the time it is registered. The Sheriff’s Dept. will act on the registered out of state injunction but will not act on any custody issues.

If the injunction was issued in another county within the State of Florida and the Sheriff’s Dept responds to a domestic violence call, the Sheriff’s Dept. will verify the injunction with the county in which it was issued.

Evaluation: Evaluation data currently not available.

Contact & Related Links: 

Deborah Pennington
Court Services Manager
Citrus County Clerk of Courts
110 N Apopka Avenue
Inverness, FL 34450
(352) 341-6431
(352) 341-6413 Fax
djp@clerk.citrus.fl.us

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