Violation of a Protective Order
Violation of a protective order is a crime. The person who violates a protective order can also be found in contempt of court.
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What if the person still bothers me after I get the Protective Order?
What happens to the person who violates a protective order?
What if I need more protection than the protective order gives me?
What if the person still bothers me after I get the Protective Order?
If you are in danger or have been injured, you should:
- Call 911 immediately;
- When the police arrive, get the officer's name and the case number. This information will help the prosecuting attorney get the incident report;
- Get medical help if necessary;
- Take pictures of your injuries; and
- Keep a record of all contacts with the abuser in a journal
Even if the abuser didn't hurt you, violating the protective order is still a crime and you should file a report with your local police. The local police should already have access to a copy of your protective order. You should also contact the prosecutor's office to file your complaint to bring court action against the person who violated the order. Your local legal services organization may be able to assist you with these steps.
What happens to the person who violates a protective order?
Violation of a protective order is a crime. In Indiana, violating a protective order is listed as the crime of Invasion of Privacy, but it can also be part of other crimes such as stalking. Violating the protective order also puts the person who violated it in contempt of court. This means the person has violated a court order, in this case, the protective order. A prosecutor will decide whether to file criminal charges for the violation of a protective order. You could also file a contempt case. The abuser could be sentenced to jail under either option.
What if I need more protection than the protective order gives me?
In Indiana there are many organizations to help protect women and families from abuse. See the Shelter List link to the right of this article for a list of places. Contact the shelter or organization that serves your area. The shelter or organization will be able to give you more information about what you can do to protect yourself.
Last revised: 2-20-04
LSC Code: 1370101
