Benchbooks & Court Guides

The 2023 Domestic Violence Benchbook (latest version)

The 2023 Florida Domestic Violence Benchbook  is a comprehensive resource guide for judges who are on the domestic violence bench, or who may be expected to review filed petitions for protection against domestic violence, sexual violence, dating violence, repeat violence, or stalking. The benchbook provides information on every step of the injunction process, complete with flowcharts and checklists designed to provide at-a-glance illumination of the procedures the judge must follow to comply with Florida law. It also contains a legal civil outline, evidence outline, and criminal domestic violence outline, each complete with case law and statutory authority.

Domestic Violence Benchbook by Section

Benchcards:

• Domestic Violence Benchcard and Flowchart
• Dating Violence Benchcard and Flowchart
• Repeat Violence Benchcard and Flowchart
• Sexual Violence Benchcard and Flowchart
• Stalking Benchcard and Flowchart
• Elder Abuse Benchcard
• Modification and Dissolution Benchcard
• Comparison of Injunction Types
• Chapter 39 Injunctions
• DV Case Process and Issues per Stage
• Strangulation Benchcard
• Animal Abuse Benchcard

Section II: 

• Colloquy for Domestic Violence Injunction Hearings
• Protocol for Domestic Violence Injunction Hearings an d Consequences for Respondents
• Security in Family Courts

 

 

 

 

 

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Section III:

• Mandatory Reporting of Abuse Checklist

Section IV:

• Firearms and Domestic Violence

 

 

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Section V:

• Stalking Legal Outline

Section VI:

• Domestic Violence Overview

 

 

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Section VII:

• Domestic Violence Legal Outline: Civil Proceedings

 

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Section VIII:

• Domestic Violence Legal Outline: Criminal Proceedings

 

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Section IX:

• Domestic Violence Legal Outline: Evidence

Section X:

• Differences Be tween Anger Management and Batterer's Intervention Program
• Abuse Later in Life
• Persons with Disabilities and the Courts
• Florida Domestic Violence Case Information System for Judges and Court Staff
• Violence Toward Family Pets
• Temporary Child Support  in DV Cases
• Domestic Violence in The United States Military
• Electronic Stalking
• Trauma Informed Justice
• Serving People with Limited English Proficiency

 

 

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Case Management Guidelines 2022

This updated manual is designed for court staff that manage domestic violence cases. The Guidelines address case flow management, pre-hearing issues, the dynamics of domestic violence, hearings, compliance, and a variety of other topics.

Florida Judicial Promising Practices Guide for Domestic Violence Injunction Cases June 2019

This publication was developed by judges and stakeholders to assist Florida judges with court and circuit procedures and courtroom security. It also offers several promising practices to assist with hearings, training, and working as a team with court administration. This guide will improve judicial decision-making, as well as helping judges ensure an effective judicial process.

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.

For more articles and other helpful resources, please see our RESOURCE LIBRARY page.