In 2021, first responders received 1,516 domestic violence-related calls in Collier County. And more unreported cases have been estimated to occur in the past few years. The Shelter for Abused Women and Children has been leading the County in providing emergency programs, shelter, and therapeutic, medical, and legal services to victims of domestic violence. The Shelter offers all of its services free of charge to help lift any financial burden as the victims start to build their lives.
While you may not think of the Clerk of the Courts in the domestic violence recovery process, we provide essential services to help victims in filing protective orders or injunctions, dissolution of marriage, and additional court filings. We’re proud of our partnership with The Shelter for Abused Women & Children in preventing, protecting, and prevailing against Domestic Violence in Collier County.
Working with our partners at The Shelter for Abused Women and Children, we helped file 532 domestic violence injunctions in 2022.
An Injunction for Protection is a civil court order that places restrictions on an individual who has allegedly committed acts or made threats of violence against another individual. You have the right to file a petition to ask the Court to issue an order called an injunction against a particular person who has been physically violent with you, placed you in fear of physical violence, or is stalking you. This is a legal protection that prevents the abuser from contact with the victim by phone, in writing, by email, or in person. There are several types of injunctions depending on circumstances.
In partnership with The Shelter for Abused Women & Children, we provide access to a Shelter advocate to better serve victims. The advocate can assist in answering questions and filing a petition for an injunction. In addition, we have worked on creating a private space in our newly renovated self-help center to ensure protection and confidentiality for domestic violence victims while accessing our other services. This center is staffed by the Shelter, free of charge so that we can provide additional resources and referrals for support.
For more information about injunctions and other court services to combat domestic violence, visit https://collierclerk.com/court-divisions/family-law/domestic-violence/.