Protective orders, commonly called restraining orders, are court-issued directives that legally shield victims from harassment, stalking, and other forms of physical or sexual assault. Those who have harmed the victim or their children may be subject to restraining orders, including directives to stop particular activities against anyone listed as a “protected person” in the order. To learn more about how restraining orders work, visit this website.
When a judge issues a restraining order, the police may be called to enforce it. Restraining orders can be personal conduct orders, “stay away” orders, or “move out” orders. Arresting the restricted person is justified by the violation of the law alone.
The following terms can be used with restraining orders:
-
Personal conduct regulations:
These are rules for preventing particular actions against each and every “protected person” included in the restraining order. The court may order the person under restraint to stop doing certain things in order to protect the victim, such as contacting, calling, or sending any messages (including emails), assaulting, striking, battering, harassing, stalking, destroying personal property, threatening, sexually assaulting, and other specific actions.
-
Orders to stay away:
Orders to keep away from the protected person’s home, workplace, school, and other frequented locations are known as “stay away orders.” Depending on the jurisdiction, the restricted person’s required separation from the protected person may change.
Move-out orders: Whether the protected person owns or rents the property, these orders require that the restrained person vacate the property. When this is done, the person has to vacate the property by order of law and cannot try to change it.
-
Child custody and visitation orders:
Orders governing child custody and visitation can indicate who will have custody of the kids and when the person under restraint can see them. No other parent/ person can visit the child outside that timeline, or strict action might be taken in court.
-
Orders requiring the surrender of firearms:
These orders demand that the subject of restraint turn over any firearms they may own or possess. It does not matter if they are registered and legal; they still have to turn over the weapons to ensure the child’s safety.
-
Orders for Monetary Support:
Orders for monetary support may mandate the person who is being detained to provide the protected person with victim support, spousal support, or other forms of support.
Further specific orders:
Depending on the jurisdiction and case details, the court may include further specific orders in the restraining order to protect the victim.