IN THE CIRCUIT COURT, SIXTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT

IN AND FOR PINELLAS COUNTY, FLORIDA

 

ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER PI-CIR-00-37

 

RE:            MUNICIPAL POLICE AGENCIES SERVING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE             INJUNCTIONS

 

            In Pinellas County, Florida, the Sheriff has jurisdiction to serve all domestic violence process.  However, Sections 741.30(7)(a)1., and 784.046(8)(a)(1), Florida Statutes, provides that the Chief Judge, in consultation with the Sheriff, may authorize a law enforcement agency within the Chief Judge’s jurisdiction to effectuate this type of service; and

            Section 741.30(2)(c)5., Florida Statutes, directs the Clerk of Court to provide petitioners with a minimum of two certified copies of a domestic violence order of injunction, one of which may be served on the respondent; and

            Sections 741.30(7)(a)1., and 784.046(8)(a)(1), Florida Statutes, provides and directs that the Clerk of Court shall furnish a copy of the petition, financial affidavit, if any, notice of hearing, and temporary injunction, if any, to the Sheriff for service of process on the respondent; and

            On August 19, 1996 the Chief Judge, after consultation with the Pinellas County Sheriff, instituted a pilot project to authorize the City of St. Petersburg, the City of Clearwater, the City of Pinellas Park and the City of Largo police departments to provide backup authority to the Pinellas County Sheriff and to effect service of process when provided a copy of the petition from the petitioner while the respondent is present at a request for municipal police services; and

            In order to authorize all municipal police departments located in Pinellas County to effect service of domestic violence and repeat violence injunctions provided by the petitioners upon the respondents while answering service calls, it is hereby

 

            ORDERED:

            1.            Municipal police departments located in Pinellas County and their individual sworn officers are hereby authorized to effect domestic violence service of process in lieu of the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Department when provided a certified copy of the domestic or repeat violence injunction by the petitioner, upon arriving at a call for police service.

            2.            Municipal police officers shall serve injunctions in accordance with instructions contained in the attached Notice To All Local Law Enforcement Agencies, and shall forthwith make a return of service in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 48, Florida Statutes.  The Clerk of Court shall attach the Notice to the certified copy of the injunction to be served on the respondent.

            3.            Service of process authorized by this Administrative Order shall give the court personal jurisdiction over the respondent.

            4.            Nothing herein is intended to change the existing policy to give primary responsibility for service of domestic and repeat violence injunctions to the Pinellas County Sheriff.  However, if a municipal police agency receives a call for initial service of an injunction, and the agency believes an immediate harm might occur if service of the injunction is not effected immediately, the agency may elect to serve the injunction.  The agency must immediately notify the Pinellas County Sheriff’s office upon serving injunctions under these circumstances.

            Administrative order PI-CIR-96-76 is hereby rescinded.

 

            DONE AND ORDERED in Chambers at St. Petersburg, Pinellas County, Florida, this 15th day of June, 2000.

 

 

 

/s/________________________

Susan F. Schaeffer, Chief Judge

 

NOTICE TO ALL LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES

 

 

 

            If this injunction is served by a municipal law enforcement agency, the injunction should be read aloud to the respondent.  Injunctions must be personally served on the respondent.  They cannot be served on any other person.  Only the sections initialed by the judge apply.  Any questions on service should be referred to the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, Fugitive Section (582-6192).  Once service has been made pursuant to Section 741.30(7)C(2), Florida Statutes, this service information must be filled out completely and faxed to the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, Fugitive Section (582-6142) immediately.  The agency that makes service must complete a return and forward this return to the Clerk’s Office.

 

 

 

SERVICE INFORMATION

 

Served on ___________________________________ Race/ ____            Sex/ ____            DOB/_______

 

Date Served:  ________________________________ Time Served:  ______________________

 

Address Served At:  _____________________________________________________________

 

Served By:  _____________________________________________________ (Name of Officer)

 

Agency:  ______________________________________________________________________

 

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SIXTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT

IN AND FOR PINELLAS COUNTY, FLORIDA

 

 

_____________________________________

                                    Plaintiff/Petitioner,

 

vs.                                                                                            Case Number

 

_____________________________________

                                    Defendant/Respondent

 

Return of Service

 

SERVED TO:                          ______________________________________________________

 

Address:                                   ______________________________________________________

 

                                                ______________________________________________________

 

Type of Process:                       ______________________________________________________

 

Attorney: 

______________________________________________________________________________

 

            Received this process on ____________, ____________, 20___, and served on

                                                            Month                     Day

 

____________________________ at _________________M., on __________, _______, 20___,

            Name of Respondent/Defendant                           Time                                        Month                     Day

 

in Pinellas County, Florida by delivering to the above-named person a certified copy of the Order entered in the above-styled cause with the date and hour of service endorsed thereon by me.

 

            _______          Non-service

 

            For the reason that after diligent search and inquiry, ______________________________

                                                                                                            Name of Respondent/Defendant

 

could not be found or ____________________________________________________________

                                                                        Reason

 

_____________, _______, 20___.

 

Police Department, City of ______________________, Florida

Pinellas County, Florida

 

                                                                                    By:  ________________________________

                                                                                                Name of Officer Serving Process