Paez Defense provides guidance on the effects of Florida’s new domestic violence law, particularly on alleged violations of injunction orders.
Under CS/CS/HB 277, which took effect July 1, 2026, a person with one prior conviction for a crime of domestic violence or for violating an injunction or foreign protection order who subsequently violates an injunction or foreign protection order against the same victim commits a third-degree felony. The legal change revises aspects of the state’s approach to repeat violations, enforcement, and electronic monitoring in certain jurisdictions.
Paez Defense provides legal representation to individuals whose injunction cases may be affected by these legislative changes. For people facing these allegations, the precise terms of a protective injunction, the history of prior cases, and the facts surrounding alleged contact can significantly affect how a criminal case proceeds. Those details may shape the charge, the defense strategy, and the case outcome.
Led by attorney Jose Paez, Paez Defense represents individuals across Fort Lauderdale, Broward County, and surrounding South Florida communities facing serious criminal allegations, including alleged violations of protective injunctions.
Under Florida law, an injunction for protection is a court order that may limit contact between named parties and impose other conditions. The terms can prohibit direct or indirect communication, restrict entry into particular locations, require a person to stay a specified distance away, or impose conditions related to firearms.
For people with prior cases involving an injunction or foreign protection order, that change may have consequences. A violation that would otherwise be charged as a first-degree misdemeanor constitutes a third-degree felony when the statutory requirements are met. For an accused person, the applicable charge depends on the record, the type of order involved, the alleged conduct, and other facts considered by the court and prosecuting authorities.
Florida’s recent law also established separate electronic-monitoring pilot programs for qualifying cases. The misdemeanor pilot program operates in Pinellas County, while the felony pilot program operates in the Sixth Judicial Circuit, which includes Pinellas and Pasco counties. Both programs began July 1, 2026, and are scheduled to end June 30, 2028. The statewide legislative changes and pilot programs underscore the importance of understanding the conditions imposed by a court and the procedural status of an individual case.
An allegation involving a violation of an injunction may arise from many circumstances. For the person accused, an allegation may involve an in-person interaction, a telephone call, a text message, an email, activity on a digital platform, communication through another person, or a visit to a location identified in the injunction. The legal significance of each circumstance depends on the language of the court order and the evidence concerning what occurred.
For a person facing charges, the review of a case may include the injunction itself, the service and notice records, law-enforcement reports, communications, digital records, witness accounts, video evidence, and the timing of the events.
An alleged violation of an injunction can also overlap with other court-imposed restrictions. In a criminal case, a judge may issue a no-contact condition as part of pretrial release, probation, or another court order. A civil injunction for protection and a criminal no-contact condition are separate legal mechanisms, although both may apply to the same individuals at the same time. The obligations and consequences associated with each restriction may differ.
Jose Paez brings courtroom and prosecutorial experience to the firm’s criminal defense work. Before entering private practice, Paez served at the Broward State Attorney’s Office. He has handled cases ranging from misdemeanors to serious felony matters. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Broward County Bar Association’s Young Lawyers Section for the 2026 term.
Based in Fort Lauderdale, Paez Defense defends clients throughout Broward County and nearby South Florida communities against domestic violence allegations, injunction violations, firearm offenses, property crimes, and probation matters.
More information about the firm’s work involving violation of injunction matters is available on its website, https://paezdefense.com/.
About Paez Defense
Paez Defense is led by Jose Paez, a criminal defense attorney in Fort Lauderdale. The firm handles a range of criminal defense matters, including misdemeanors, serious felonies, drug crimes, firearm offenses, property and theft crimes, violations of injunctions, domestic violence, and violent crimes.
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An attorney–client relationship with Paez Defense begins only upon a written agreement and retainer payment, confirmed in a signed engagement letter. Do not send confidential information until such an agreement is executed.
Jurisdictional Statement:
Paez Defense practices law exclusively within the State of Florida. Representation in other jurisdictions may involve association with local counsel.
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For more information about Paez Defense, contact the company here:
Paez Defense
Jose Paez
(954) 266-8687
jose@paezdefense.com
888 S Andrews Ave, Suite 201, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316