F R O M T H E C L E R K O F C O U R T & C O M P T R O L L E R C i n d y S t u a r t – C l e r k o f C o u r t & C o m p t r o l l e r , T h i r t e e n t h J u d i c i a l C i r c u i t
Clerk ’ sofficeprovideshopeCards automaticallytodomesticviolence petitionerswithfinalprotectionorder
hopeCardsareasmallpieceoftheClerk ’ sofficeinnovations supportingdomesticviolencesurvivorsinhillsboroughCounty .
When I speak at public events , I often talk about my office ’ s domestic violence injunction innovations .
I also speak about how the topic is very personal because of my family history .
Every year , the Hillsborough County Clerk of Court and Comptroller ’ s office handles more than 6,500 petitions for injunctions at the downtown Tampa courthouse and the Plant City Courthouse .
The Clerk ’ s office is also open 365 days a year to accept restraining order petitions . We know time matters , and seconds matter to survivors .
My office has taken several impactful steps to enhance the safety of domestic violence victims , including speeding up the process by working to change domestic violence legislation in 2022 . Because of this simple update , Clerk ’ s Offices statewide can now email official paperwork to law enforcement agencies across county lines instead of relying on U . S . Mail , providing a swifter path to protection for survivors .
My office also offers an option to receive case updates via text . When a judge rules on an injunction petition , we send a text with the official paperwork . Now survivors can choose to stay in their safe place instead of returning to the courthouse to retrieve paperwork . Those text subscriptions have climbed over the years . Since 2020 , the office has tracked more than 43,000 .
We also partnered with local law enforcement agencies to expand safe and convenient petition locations across Hillsborough County , including all Hillsborough County Sheriff ’ s Office , Tampa Police , Temple Terrace Police , and Plant City district offices . The expansion is an outstanding example of the power of partnerships with purpose . New legislation , signed by the Governor , now gives survivors another tool . Hope Cards are designed to
support petitioners who have obtained a final order of protection , making it easier for them to inform law enforcement of their situation quickly and effectively .
Florida Statute § 741.311 mandates that all Clerk ’ s Offices provide Hope Cards to petitioners with an order of protection upon request . However , the Hillsborough Clerk ’ s Office goes above and beyond by automatically providing Hope Cards to all petitioners with a final protection order , eliminating the need for victims to request one .
Originally , the legislation only provided for a physical Hope Card , but I advocated for a digital version to eliminate extra printing costs . As a result , my office is providing Hope Cards in a digital format , available through text , with essential information such as the petitioner ’ s name , the respondent ’ s name , and the date of the restraining order .
When law enforcement responds to a domestic violence call , a Hope Card serves as a quick reference tool to provide immediate context and enhance the safety of the victim . Hope Cards will be available both digitally and in paper format and will include the following details : respondent ’ s name and date of birth ; name and date of birth of the petitioner or protected person ; information about the issuing court ; case number ; date the order of protection issued ; expiration date of order of protection ,
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