Florida

State Overview

State Summary

The state does have domestic violence legislation that includes same-sex relationships if partners are residing in the same household. The definition of domestic violence only includes persons who are currently living together or who lived together in the past unless they share a child. Florida has no plans to switch to an incident-based reporting system; law enforcement agencies currently submit summary data to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. No specialized system exists for reporting domestic or sexual violence incidents outside of the summary system. Crime counts are published in an annual report.

The Florida Coalition Against Domestic Violence collects summary statistics from all 41 certified domestic violence centers, which enter the information directly into a standardized local database. The Coalition does not publish the information. The Florida Council Against Sexual Violence does not collect any information from service providers. The Florida Department of Health's Sexual Violence Prevention Program collects data through the confidential, internet-based Sexual Violence Data Registry. Rape crisis centers, domestic violence centers, and other entities voluntarily enter information on victims and sexual violence services provided to victims, regardless of whether the incident was reported to law enforcement. The data are not available to the public, but are used to make programmatic decisions and produce reports.

State Projects

• Battered Women's Prison Project

The Prison Project advocates for the freedom of incarcerated victims through clemency representation. Continuing prior efforts that led to the release of victims convicted of killing their abusers, the Project plans to also advocate for women imprisoned on attempted murder and other charges. Clemency advocacy includes: investigating and documenting all instances of abuse, uncovering attendant mental health consequences, exposing the injustice experienced by victims in the criminal justice system, submitting all relevant materials and arguments, providing representation throughout the clemency interview processes, advocating with decision-makers at the Capitol, and appearing before the Governor and Cabinet. Clients are also assisted with prison issues, aftercare plans, and other needs.


• Clearinghouse Project

The Clearinghouse Project was begun in 1997 as a pilot program, the first in the country, to provide victims of domestic violence with legal representation in final hearings on Injunctions for Protection Against Domestic Violence. The Florida Coalition Against Domestic Violence subcontracts with legal service providers assigned to Florida's certified domestic violence shelters/centers throughout the state of Florida. The project is based on direct referrals from the shelter to the legal service provider.


• Civil Legal Assistance Project

In 2000, the Florida Coalition Against Domestic Violence was awarded a Civil Legal Assistance grant to fund two legal projects. One project will utilize the funds to expand the Clearinghouse Project through legal representation of domestic violence victims in dissolution of marriage and child custody actions. The second project is a pilot program utilizing the collaborative efforts of a law school, a private law firm, a domestic violence shelter/center and a legal services provider. The thrust is to assist victims in the private law arena by using law students and other resources to enhance the legal services available to victims of domestic violence.


• President's Family Justice Center Initiative
  The PFJCI is a pilot program administered by the Office on Violence Against Women that has awarded more than $20 million to 15 communities across the country for the planning, development, and establishment of comprehensive domestic violence victim service and support centers. The goal of the PFJCI is to make a victim's search for help and justice more efficient and effective by bringing professionals who provide an array of services together under one roof. One of the first centers, the Family Justice Center of Hillsborough County brings together over 60 partners to provide services to domestic violence victims.

Available Reports

General Crime

• Florida Department of Law Enforcement. (Annual). Arrest totals by age and sex.
• Florida Department of Law Enforcement. (Annual). Crime in Florida.
• Division of Victim Services and Criminal Justice Programs. (2006).  Annual report 2004 - 2005. Florida Office of Attorney General.
• Division of Victim Services and Criminal Justice Programs. (2006).  Annual report 2003 - 2004. Florida Office of Attorney General.

Domestic Violence

• Department of Children and Families. (Annual). Violence free Florida! Ending abuse - improving lives: Domestic violence annual report.
• Florida Department of Law Enforcement. (Annual). Florida Domestic Violence Fatality Review Team annual report.
• Florida Office of Attorney General. (Annual). Year in review.
• Watson, A. (2007).  Pregnancy-related deaths during the postpartum period, 1999-2004.
• National Network to End Domestic Violence. (2008). Domestic violence counts 07: Executive summary for Florida.
• National Network to End Domestic Violence. (2007). Domestic violence counts: Executive summary for Florida.
• CMC & Associates. (2006).  Domestic Violence Program Office customer service satisfaction survey results.
• Florida Department of Law Enforcement. (1998).  Final report: Statewide tracking of domestic violence cases.
• Florida Department of Law Enforcement. (1996).  Domestic violence in Florida. SAC Notes.
• Pate, A., Hamilton, E., and Annan, S. (1992). Metro-Dade Spouse Abuse Replication Project, Final Report. Washington, DC: National Institute of Justice.

Sexual Assault

• Ruggiero, K. J. and Kilpatrick, D. G. (2003).  One in nine: Rape in Florida. National Violence Against Women Prevention Research Center.
• Spohn, C. C., Beichner, D., Franzel, E. D., and Holleran, D. (2002).  Prosecutors’ charging decisions in sexual assault cases: A multi-site study. NCJ 197048. Washington, DC: National Institute of Justice, US Department of Justice.

Violence Against Women

• Jasinski, J. L., Wesely, J. K., Mustaine, E., and Wright, J. D. (2005).  The experience of violence in the lives of homeless women. NCJ 211976. Washington, DC: United States Department of Justice, National Institute of Justice.

Sample Data Collection Forms

Certified domestic violence centers enter summary information into this local database, which is sent to the Florida Coalition Against Domestic Violence:

• Domestic Violence Services

The Florida Office of Attorney General collects information from victims filing for compensation using this form:

•  Quarterly Statistics Form

Available Data

General Crime

• Florida Department of Law Enforcement. (Annual). Arrest Data.
• Florida Department of Law Enforcement. (Annual). Offense Data.
• Florida Department of Law Enforcement. (Annual). Officer Data.
• Florida Department of Law Enforcement. (Annual). Total Index Crime.
• Florida Department of Law Enforcement. (Annual). Total Property Crime.
• Florida Department of Law Enforcement. (Annual). Total Violent Crime.

Domestic Violence

• Department of Children and Families. (Annual). Domestic Violence Data Reports.
• Florida Department of Law Enforcement. (Annual). Domestic Violence Data.
• Florida Department of Law Enforcement. (Annual). Total Domestic Violence for Florida.
• Piquero, A. R., Brame, R., Fagan, J., and Moffitt, T. E. (2007). Offender characteristics, offense mix, and escalation in domestic violence in Colorado Springs, Colorado, Miami-Dade, Florida, Omaha, Nebraska, Charlotte, North Carolina, and Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 1987-1989. NACJD Study 4454.
• Pate, A., Hamilton, E. E., and Annan, S. (1991). Spouse Abuse Replication Project in Metro-Dade County, Florida, 1987-1989. NACJD Study No. 6008.

Sexual Assault

• Florida Department of Law Enforcement. (Annual). Total Sex Offenses for Florida.

Links to State Agencies and Resources

• Florida Department of Law Enforcement's Statistical Analysis Center
• Florida Coalition Against Domestic Violence
• Florida Council Against Sexual Violence
• Florida Department of Health Sexual Violence Prevention Program
• Florida Office of Attorney General Crime Victims' Services
• Florida Department of Children and Families Office of Domestic Violence Program
• Florida Pregnancy-Associated Mortality Review (PAMR)
• Family Justice Center of Hillsborough County