No Contact Orders and Protective Injunctions: What You Can and Cannot Do After an Assault Arrest
You get arrested on an assault or domestic violence charge in Florida. You bond out. You’re exhausted, confused, and just want to go home, talk it out, and fix things. Then the judge issues one sentence that quietly detonates your “I’ll just handle this myself” plan: “No contact with the alleged victim.” Or worse, you’re served with a protective injunction—what people often call a “restraining order.” Suddenly, normal life is illegal. Calling, texting, going home, seeing your kids, showing up at shared events—things you’ve done for years can now put you back in jail. Quickly.
At Drew Fritsch Law Firm, P.A., we see people violate these orders not because they’re dangerous criminals, but because no one explained the rules in plain English. And we’re here to do that.
No Contact Means Exactly That. No Contact.
After an assault or domestic violence arrest, the judge at your first appearance can impose a no contact order as a condition of release, often under Fla. Stat. § 741.29 and general bond authority.
“No contact” usually means:
- No calls
- No texts
- No emails
- No social media messages or tags
- No DMs, comments, or reactions
- No driving by their home or work
- No sending messages through other people (“Tell her I’m sorry…”)
You cannot contact the alleged victim directly or indirectly—even if:
- They contact you first
- They say they “forgive you”
- They want to “work it out”
- They tell you they’ll “tell the judge it’s okay”
None of it matters. The court gave you the order—not them. Only the court can change or lift it.
What If You Make the Contact?
Violation of a no contact order can lead to:
- Your bond being revoked
- New criminal charges for violation of pretrial release under Fla. Stat. § 903.047
- Immediate jail time
And prosecutors love these violations. You turn a defensible assault case into an easy “he can’t follow court orders” story.
Protective Injunctions: Civil Case, Real Consequences
Separate from your criminal case, the alleged victim can file for a protective injunction under Fla. Stat. § 741.30 (domestic violence), or related statutes for dating, repeat, or sexual violence.
Common types:
- Domestic Violence Injunction
- Dating Violence Injunction
- Repeat Violence Injunction
- Sexual Violence Injunction
- Stalking Injunction
These are civil orders, but if granted, they can:
- Order you to stay away from the petitioner’s home, work, or school
- Restrict communication entirely
- Affect temporary time-sharing with children
- Require you to surrender firearms and ammunition (see Fla. Stat. § 790.233)
- Show up in background checks and licensing decisions
Violation of a protective injunction is a crime (typically a first-degree misdemeanor, punishable by up to one year in jail).
What You Cannot Do (Even If It Feels Harmless)
Let’s be blunt about the landmines. You cannot:
- Text “Can I get my stuff?”
- Message “We need to talk about the kids”
- Ask a mutual friend to “see how she’s doing” for you
- Like their Instagram post from a burner account
- Show up at the house because “she said it’s fine”
You especially cannot:
- Argue, threaten, or pressure the alleged victim about dropping charges or the injunction
- Post about them publicly in a way that could be interpreted as harassment or intimidation
- Law enforcement and prosecutors will happily frame all of this as witness tampering, harassment, or injunction violation.
Still not sure what you can and cannot do? Consider speaking with a Punta Gorda assault lawyer who can review your specific situation and advise you accordingly.
Stop Guessing. Talk to Us Now
If you’ve been arrested for assault or domestic violence in Florida and are facing a no contact order or protective injunction, do not guess your way through this.
Contact Drew Fritsch Law Firm, P.A. today for a confidential consultation. Get clear rules and a real defense strategy. Call our office at 941.205.3535 to schedule a case evaluation.
Based in Punta Gorda, Drew Fritsch Law Firm, P.A. also provides criminal defense services throughout Charlotte, Lee, Collier, and Sarasota Counties.
Source:
leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0700-0799/0741/Sections/0741.29.html
