Restraining Orders

Violating a protection order can be a crime. There are two main ways to get help if the abuser violates your order:

1. Criminal Contempt. You can call the police or sheriff immediately, even if you think it’s a minor violation. Tell the officers that you have a protection order and the abuser is violating it. The abuser may be arrested and prosecuted, because it is a crime to violate a protection order. If the abuser is found guilty of violating a protection order, they can be fined up to $1,000, face up to six months in jail, or both.¹
2. Civil Contempt. You can go back to the court that issued your order and file a motion for civil contempt of court against the abuser. You may wish to speak with an attorney for advice on filing for civil contempt, or to find out what the possible penalties can be.

For more information about contempt, including the difference between criminal contempt and civil contempt, go to our general Domestic Violence Restraining Orders page.

Note: In Mississippi, you cannot file for both civil and criminal contempt at the same time. A person cannot be held in civil contempt and convicted of a misdemeanor due to the same violation of the order.²

¹ Miss. Code § 93-21-21(1)
² Miss. Code § 93-21-21(2)