Orders of Protection

Abstract

Women seeking legal assistance to end domestic violence and/or intimate partner violence have increasingly sought out civil protection orders. In fact, each year, approximately one million protection orders are issued in the United States. These legal orders restrict the access of one individual (usually a male abuser) to another individual (typically a female victim). Since these orders are issued via the civil court system, this gives a victim legal protection without utilizing the criminal court system. However, if the order is violated, the abuser could be criminally charged.