3,900 Domestic Violence Injunctions Issued In Polk County In 2021

BARTOW, FL — The Polk County Board of County Commissioners presented Polk County Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller Stacy M. Butterfield with a proclamation at Tuesday’s board meeting declaring October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

There were more than 3,900 domestic violence injunctions filed in Polk County in 2021, with 566 repeat violence cases.

Injunctions for protection can be filed in person at the Bartow Courthouse. Dedicated domestic violence advocates are available to assist applicants with the process.

Additionally, injunction paperwork can be prepared online using DIY resources and filed through the Florida Court’s E-Filing portal. These online resources are free and available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

“As the proclamation stated, last year more than 3,900 domestic violence injunction cases were filed in Polk County,” Butterfield said. “This number unfortunately increased by 1,700 cases from the prior year. This isn’t an increase we want to see, so it’s important that we continuously work to increase awareness and take action to help our community.”

According to the domestic violence shelter, Peace River Center, one in three women and one in four men in the United States will experience intimate partner violence. One-third of children are exposed to domestic violence at some point during childhood or adolescence. Domestic violence can include physical and sexual violence, threats and emotional abuse.

Protective injunctions force abusers, by law, to stop abuse or threats against domestic violence victims, prevent abusers from coming near or contacting victims, and make abusers leave the home or give temporary custody of children to the victim. Further, the penalty for an abuser that violates an injunction is arrest.

Those in need of protection are urged to contact the Polk County Clerk’s office at 863-534-4000 for guidance and help processing injunction applications. All residents are encouraged to help bring domestic violence to an end.

Victims can also call the Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233).

Pictured in the photo are, first row, from left, are Tracy Beebe, outgoing clerk family law manager; Monica Carrasco, incoming clerk family law manager; Clerk & Comptroller Stacy Butterfield; Kim Stenger, clerk courts director; and Larry Williams, chief executive officer of Peace River Center.

In the second row are Polk Commissioner George Lindsey, Commissioner Rick Wilson, Commissioner and Chairwoman Martha Santiago, Commissioner Bill Braswell and Commissioner Neil Combee.