Restraining Orders

A protection order is good anywhere in the United States as long as:

• It was issued to prevent:
  
  • violent or threatening acts;
  • harassing behavior;
  • sexual violence; or
  • another person from coming near you or contacting you;¹
• The judge who gave you the order had power (jurisdiction) over the people and case – in other words, they had the authority to hear the case; and
• The abuser received notice of the order and had an opportunity to go to court to tell their side of the story;
  
  • In the case of ex parte emergency orders, the abuser must receive notice and have an opportunity to go to court to tell their side of the story at a hearing that is scheduled before the emergency order expires.²

Note: For information on enforcing a military protective order (MPO) off the military installation, or enforcing a civil protection order (CPO) on a military installation, please see our Military Protective Orders page.

¹ 18 U.S.C. § 2266(5)
² 18 U.S.C. § 2265(a) & (b)