Domestic Violence

New Materials

A Guide to Injunctions for Protection

All court scenes are portrayals of hypothetical scenarios.

This Domestic Violence Checklist for Litigants was also created to accompany the videos above, and offers further information about the domestic violence process. If you would like to download these 3 videos for use in your circuit, please contact vcsupport@zh121.com.

View Available NCJFCJ Publications

The NCJFCJ has prepared a catalog of available publications from the Family Violence and Domestic Relations Program.

The 2023 Sexual Violence Benchbook

The 2023 Florida Sexual Violence Benchbook is a comprehensive resource guide for judges who are on the criminal bench and anticipate that they will hear cases involving sexual violence. The benchbook provides information on the hearings that courts routinely hold, complete with flowcharts and checklists designed to provide at-a-glance as well as in-depth analysis of the criminal procedures impacted by the nature of the crime.

Strangulation Infographic

 This infographic provides a quick look at what constitutes strangulation, some statistics regarding strangulation, and some of the devastating effects of it.

Upcoming Webinars

The Last Drop - Film Screening and Discussion on Dating Violence

Mar 5, 2024 10:00 AM - 12 PM EST

View the short film and join in a discussion with Adam Joel, the producer, and Judge Elisabeth Espinosa, 11th Circuit

Today, many young adults face conflicting messages in popular culture about what makes for a healthy relationship. Technology
is creating new opportunities for connection while at the same time offering new methods for abuse and control. Social
media and tracking technologies offer unparalleled ways to stay close to friends and partners. At the same time, tech can
be twisted by abusers to stalk, monitor and control a partner. The Last Drop explores coercive control through the lens of an
imagined futuristic technology that allows young people to share memories. In a twist on the concept of gaslighting, it also allows for the manipulation of memories to create the image of a happy relationship when the actual relationship was abusive. The film uses futuristic tech-oriented storytelling to connect with a young audience about the dynamics of control in relationships that don’t involve physical violence.

Register in advance for this meeting:
http://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJwrdeGtrzguHtBnusCY8v-HLmfpwIe0cGAT

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

We have applied for CJE's and CLE's.

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Please plan on joining Judges Carroll Kelly, Alicia Latimore, and Hope Bristol as they discuss a possible family law rule change that would make remote hearings the norm in interpersonal violence cases to:

1. Improve safety for litigants
2. Reduce fear and manipulation
3. Improve attendance at hearings due to lack of transportation, taking time off from work, and child-care issues

The panel will also address any concerns, service, and technology issues.

Bring your questions!

After the webinar, participants will be asked to complete a short survey to vote for or against the rule change as noted below:

The Florida Supreme Court Steering Committee on Families and Children in the Court is currently studying whether or not Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure 12.610(b)(3)A and 12.610(b)(3)B should be amended to include this language:

An individual’s appearance or attendance at domestic violence, repeat violence, sexual violence, dating violence, or stalking proceedings must be through audio or audio-video communication technology, unless the court determines that appearance through audio or audio-video communication technology is inconsistent with the United States Constitution, the State Constitution, a statute, a rule of court, a court order or due process.

Do you support this change?

Why or why not?

 If not, is there an amendment that you would suggest that would lead you to support a change? (e.g., changing "individual's appearance" to "Petitioner's Appearance," etc.)  

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When: Apr 12, 2024 12:15 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Topic: Remote Hearings in Interpersonal Violence Proceedings

Register in advance for this webinar:

http://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_rTLuocgMSLCKuCIl4kxu7g

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

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Recognizing the Inherent Lethality Risks of Coercive Control

Presented by Judge Holly Grissinger, 6th Judicial Circuit, and Donna King, Ph.D., J.D., President/Director of Victims Safe Harbor

When: Sep 12, 2024 12:00 PM - 1 PM EST

As a result of this training, participants will be able to:

1. Define “coercive control,” as derived from an empirical based study completed with data from a study of intimate partner homicides within the state of Florida.
2. Identify acts and behaviors of coercive control, i.e., eight themes and twenty-seven sub-themes, utilized by abusers and victims when coercive control is present in an intimate partner relationship, including physical violence and the threat thereof. 
3. Recognize non-violent coercive control tactics in a variety of scenarios through examples provided.
4. Better understand the application of coercive control to Greyson’s Law, pursuant to § 741.28, Fla. Stat., § 61.13, Fla. Stat., and § 741.30, Fla. Stat.
5. Understand the lethality risk of the continuing course of conduct of the non-violent tactics of coercive control within an intimate partner relationship between an abuser and a victim, whether or not recent physical violence or the threat thereof is present.

Register in advance for this webinar: http://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_DmgcEYQCQC6XiufWXDTvcg 
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

OFC has applied for CJE's and CLE's.

For a list of of national training events, please see the National Center on Domestic and Sexual Violence.

For events sponsored and/or hosted by the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges, please see the NCJFCJ calendar.    

If you have questions about upcoming events, please email the Office of Family Courts at vcsupport@zh121.com.