What Are the Conditions of a Domestic Violence Protection Order?

The answer to this question depends on the individual protection order. Generally, a protection order – also known as a restraining order – is a court order that limits the restrained person’s ability to contact the protected person. If another person has a protection order against you, it is important to thoroughly understand all of the conditions named in the order. Otherwise, you risk violating the protection order, which can lead to criminal charges.

In Colorado, protection orders are issued in two different ways. In all criminal cases, courts are legally required to issue a protection order that, at a minimum, restrains the person charged from harassing, molesting, intimidating, retaliating against, or tampering with any witness to or victim of the acts charged. C.R.S. § 18-1-1001. Outside of the context of criminal cases, a person can petition a court to issue a civil protection order. C.R.S. § 13-14-104.5.

What Are the Typical Conditions of a Protection Order?

If a person obtains a domestic violence protection order against you, it is critical to understand its precise terms and conditions. This can be accomplished only by reviewing the protection order that governs you. Be sure to understand the specific conditions of your protection order to establish what you can and cannot do while the order is active.

What Happens if You Violate a Protection Order in Colorado?

It is a crime to violate a protection order. If the offender violates the conditions of an order, he or she could be arrested and charged with criminal contempt or with the misdemeanor offense of Violation of a Protection Order. This can result in jail time, additional sanctions against the offender, fines, mandatory courses, restitution and other penalties. If you are facing a protection order in Colorado or are being accused of violating one, contact a Boulder criminal defense lawyer right away for assistance.