Peaceful Paths can help you with your Petition for an Injunction for Protection (Restraining Order). We have attorneys in our Injunction for Protection Program

who will represent you in the injunction process. 

It is extremely important to be represented at your court hearing. To contact the Peaceful Paths Injunction for Protection Program please call 352-317-2348 or 352-377-5690 ext. 536. The Injunction for Protection Program can help you before you file your petition or after it has been filed. 

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We look forward to assisting you with any additional services that would be of help to you during this difficult time. 

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In Alachua County to speak to an Advocate at Peaceful Paths call 352-377-5690. 

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In Bradford and Union Counties please call 352-318-4852 to speak to an Advocate. 

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Here is a list of legal services we provide: 

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• Injunction petition completion, filing and revision.

• Review denied injunctions and refile or file supplemental petitions.

• Representation at final hearings and handling any ancillary issues regarding temporary time-sharing and other legal issues.

• Representation of victims as respondents.

• Filing civil violations of injunctions and working collaboratively with police and the Florida State Attorney’s Office for criminal contempt issues.

• Represent survivors in Motion to Dismiss or Modify the Injunction.

• Legal advice for any legal issue a survivor presents.

• Provide legal referrals for issues beyond the scope of the project.

• Provide follow up after court proceedings.

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Our Injunction Legal Team​
 

• Brittani Melvin
  Lead IFP Attorney 
   

• Alex Bernier
  IFP Attorney

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• David Johnson
  IFP Attorney

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• Laura Levin
  Legal Assistant

      

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What is an injunction?

An injunction is a court order that can give you legal protection from the person who is abusing you. It may include:

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• Commands for the abuser to stay away from you and have no contact with you.

• Temporary exclusive use of the home you both share.

• Preventing the abuser from entering your home, school or workplace.

• Temporary custody of your children (under 18).

• A requirement for the abuser to attend a batterer's intervention program.

 

For the purposes of obtaining an injunction, Florida law protects victims of Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Violence and Stalking. The law defines them as:

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• Domestic violence includes assault, battery, sexual assault, sexual battery, stalking, kidnapping or other crime resulting in physical injury caused by a spouse, former spouse, person related by blood or marriage, another person with whom you are living together with as a family or have lived together as a family in the past, or a person with whom you have a child in common, even if you never lived together.

• Dating violence is violence between persons who have or had a continuing and significant relationship of a romantic or intimate nature. The relationship must have existed within six months of when you ask the court for help.

• Sexual violence includes any one incident of sexual battery, a lewd or lascivious act committed on or in the presence of a person under 16 years of age, luring or enticing a child, sexual performance of a child, or any other forcible felony where a sexual act is committed or attempted.

• Stalking is the repeated following, harassment, or cyberstalking of one person by another person. Cyberstalking means to engage in a course of conduct to communicate, or to cause to be communicated, words, images, or language by or through the use of electronic mail or electronic communication, directed at a specific person, causing substantial emotional distress to that person and serving no legitimate purpose.

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The Injunction for Protection Program services are free of charge. You also have the right to hire an attorney of your choice to represent you when filing an injunction, or you may file without the help of an attorney. You do not have to work with the Injunction for Protection Program to obtain an injunction for protection.

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Source:  Florida Department of Children and Families 

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