What Happens if an Injunction is Issued Against You

If you’ve been accused of a domestic violence offense, such as stalking, or another crime, such as kidnapping, you may soon have an injunction issued against you. Perhaps you’ve already been notified of an injunction. Having an injunction issued against you is a scary thing. It’s likely the beginning of a criminal case, and it’s difficult to know what to do. However, the steps you take now are very important. They could help your case in the future, or seriously harm it. To prevent you from hurting your case, below are a few of the do’s and don’ts you should follow after an injunction is issued.

What to Do After an Injunction is Issued

There are some very important steps to take after an injunction is issued against you. There are also several things you should refrain from doing. These include:

• Hire an attorney: If a judge has issued an injunction, it’s unlikely the case will end there. Speaking to an attorney at the beginning of your case will help them build a solid defense for you.
• Remain silent: The prosecution may use anything you say against you. For this reason, don’t speak to anyone about your case except your attorney.
• Follow the terms: Violating the terms of the injunction is going to seriously hurt your case. Even if they seem unfair, you must follow the terms of the injunction. You will have a chance to argue any claims made at a later date.
• Attend your hearing: At your hearing, you are able to tell your side of the story to a judge. This may be your only chance, so it’s important you attend.
• Gather evidence: If there is evidence such as text messages or voicemails refuting the claims made in the injunction, collect it now. It can help with your case and will allow your attorney to start working on your case sooner.

Just as there are things you should do after an injunction is issued, there are also things you should never do.

What Not to Do After an Injunction is Issued

If you take any of the following steps, it could seriously hurt your case. After an injunction is issued, you should not:

• Contact the petitioner: An injunction is meant to prevent you from contacting another person, the petitioner. Contacting them is a direct violation, and the courts will not look kindly on it in the future. Even sending messages through a third-party is considered contact, so don’t do this, either.
• Own weapons: Typically, owning a firearm or weapon is a violation of an injunction. You could even face separate weapons charges.
• Agree to the injunction: Many times, you aren’t given a choice on the injunction. If you don’t attend the hearing though, or make another mistake, you could unintentionally agree to it. For these reasons, you should always speak to an attorney that can advise you of the consequences of these actions.

These are very basic do’s and don’ts of injunctions issued in Florida. An attorney will fully explain what an injunction is, how to fight it, and will help you with the rest of your case.

Call a Florida Criminal Defense Lawyer Today

If you’ve had an injunction issued against you, or you’ve been charged with a crime, don’t take on your case on your own. Our Tampa criminal defense attorneys have the experience necessary to fight injunctions and build you a solid defense. Before talking to law enforcement, contact the top notch Tampa lawyers at All Criminal Defense Law Group, P.A. for a free consultation.

Resource:

leg.state.fl.us/Statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0700-0799/0784/Sections/0784.048.html

https://www.familymaritallaw.com/criminal-mischief-laws-in-florida/