If you were arrested in Florida and released with a no-contact order, the stakes for breaking that order just went up. As of October 1, 2026, a new Florida law (HB 397, the "Victim Safety in Pretrial Release Act") makes a willful violation of certain no-contact orders a brand-new criminal charge.
Before this law, violating a condition of pretrial release usually was not its own crime, except in domestic violence cases. The judge could revoke your bond and send you back to jail, but you would not face an additional charge. Now you can.
The law covers people on pretrial release for violent offenses, including:
A typical no-contact order bars you from communicating with the alleged victim in any way, having physical contact, or coming within 500 feet of their home, vehicle, workplace or places they regularly go. Texts, calls, social media messages and messages passed through friends or family can all count.
Officers can arrest without a warrant if they have probable cause, and the person must be held in jail until first appearance. When deciding whether to release someone again, judges must now consider the seriousness of the original charge and the person's history of following court orders.
If you have been charged with violating a no-contact order, or you are on bond and worried about one, call Rainka Law at (904) 329-7245 for a free case evaluation.
This post is for general information and is not legal advice. Reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship.
Michael is a dedicated Jacksonville Criminal Defense Attorney and Florida TCPA Attorney who approaches every case with the utmost skill and effort. Michael is exceptionally skilled in the areas of criminal and traffic matters.
