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Florida Criminal Offense

Violation of Protective Injunction

Willfully violating an injunction for protection against repeat violence, sexual violence, or dating violence, or a qualifying foreign protection order.

VariesVaries

Florida Statute

§ 784.047

Penalties for violating protective injunction against violators

View Official Florida Statute

Verified against the 2026 Florida Statutes: September 13, 2026

Quick Summary

Confirm the injunction type, validity, willful prohibited act, victim, and the number of prior qualifying injunction or protection-order convictions.

Classification Matrix

Use this as a quick classification reference. Specific facts, statutory circumstances, and charging allegations may affect the applicable result.

Willful Violation of Protective Injunction

F.S. § 784.047(1)

MisdemeanorFirst Degree

Willfully violating a listed prohibition in an injunction for protection against repeat, sexual, or dating violence, or a qualifying foreign protection order.

Repeat Violation Against Same Victim

F.S. § 784.047(2)

FelonyThird Degree

After two or more qualifying prior convictions, committing a subsequent protective-injunction or protection-order violation against the same victim.

Elements of the Offense

Elements marked AND are cumulative. Elements marked OR identify statutory alternatives; one applicable alternative must be established when that theory is charged. Conditional elements apply only to the identified statutory track.

  1. Element 1
    AND — Required

    Qualifying protection order

    An injunction for protection against repeat violence, sexual violence, or dating violence, or a qualifying foreign protection order, was in effect against the defendant for the benefit of the victim.

    Plain language: Identify the injunction type and confirm the protected person.

  2. Element 2
    OR — Alternative

    Willful prohibited act — prove one alleged method

    The defendant willfully violated the injunction or order through a listed prohibited act.

    Plain language: Select and document the specific act, such as prohibited contact, proximity, violence, property damage, or a firearms-related violation.

  3. Element 3
    AND — Required

    Repeat-violation escalation — all facts required

    For the felony repeat-violation track, the defendant previously had two or more qualifying injunction or protection-order convictions and the subsequent violation was against the same victim.

    Plain language: Confirm the number and nature of prior qualifying convictions and the same-victim condition.

Jury Instructions

Instruction 8.19

Violation of Injunction for Protection Against Repeat, Sexual, or Dating Violence

Florida Standard Jury Instruction for F.S. § 784.047. The repeat-violation determination requires the instruction's bifurcation guidance.

View Official Instruction

Verified against the official instruction source: September 13, 2026

Important Definitions

Willfully

Knowingly, intentionally, and purposely.

Repeat Violence

Two incidents of violence or stalking committed by the respondent, with at least one occurring within 6 months before the petition was filed, directed against the petitioner or the petitioner's immediate family member.

Sexual Violence

One incident of a statutorily listed sexual offense or other forcible felony involving a committed or attempted sexual act, regardless of whether criminal charges were filed, reduced, or dismissed.

Dating Violence

Violence between people who have or had a continuing and significant romantic or intimate relationship meeting the statute's recency, relationship-nature, and interaction factors; casual acquaintances and ordinary business or social fraternization are excluded.

Additional Notes

Quick Reference

Identify whether the order protects against repeat, sexual, or dating violence. Record the exact prohibited act, the protected person, and any qualifying prior injunction or protection-order convictions.

Important

The felony enhancement requires two or more qualifying prior convictions and a subsequent violation against the same victim. Review the current order itself for its precise terms.