Violation of Protective Injunction
Arrest exception may applyWillfully violating an injunction for protection against repeat violence, sexual violence, or dating violence, or a qualifying foreign protection order.
Florida Statute
§ 784.047
Penalties for violating protective injunction against violators
Verified against the 2026 Florida Statutes: September 13, 2026
Warrantless Arrest Authority
Conditional authority—not a blanket exception for every charge on this page. PC means probable cause. Establish probable cause and the applicable facts; open the entry for complete requirements. Arrest authority alone does not authorize entry into a home.
Qualifying protective-injunction violations
Required facts
- Probable cause for a criminal act under §741.31, §784.047, OR §825.1036 within §901.15(6), or a qualifying foreign protection-order violation.
- Verify the operative order, notice, prohibited conduct, AND applicable statutory track.
Limits & qualifications
- Verify the operative order, notice, prohibited conduct, and exact statutory track.
- Petitioner objection does not bar the arrest.
Authority
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)
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)
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 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.
- Element 1AND — 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.
- Element 2OR — 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.
- Element 3AND — 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.
Jury Instructions
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 InstructionVerified against the official instruction source: September 13, 2026
Important Definitions
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
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.