Criminal Courts

The criminal court is reserved for crimes such as assault or battery. Victims who would like to press charges against the batterer should contact law enforcement to obtain a police report and then ask the state attorney to file a criminal complaint against the abuser.

Abusers arrested for domestic violence are held without bond for up to 24 hours. During that time, an advisory hearing will occur and the state attorney will determine if sufficient evidence exists to prosecute the case. Survivors have the right to attend any hearings and should be notified of what is happening in the case by the state attorney. If the abuser pleads guilty, or is convicted of a crime, that person can be sentenced to jail, probation, counseling, batterer's intervention program, payment of a fine, court costs, or ordered to make restitution to the victim of the crime.

You may contact the victim's notification line for the most current inmate information at 1 (877) VINE-4-FL. You may contact advocates at the State Attorney's Office for questions regarding Criminal Court at (407) 836-2400.

IMPORTANT LINKS

Ninth Judicial Circuit Court of Florida

Office of the Attorney General of Florida

Florida Coalition Against Domestic Violence

Orange County Corrections Department

Victim's Notification Program (V.I.N.E)

Orange County Bar Association

Child Support Enforcement

Florida Legislature - Legal Statutes