Who qualifies for a civil protection order?
If you are a victim of sexual abuse, sexual assault, or stalking by someone who is not a family or household member, you can apply for a civil protection order in the Superior Court. If the abuser is a family or household member, then you would apply for a relief from abuse order instead, not a civil protection order.1
For the purpose of qualifying for a civil protection order, stalking is when someone commits two or more of the following acts in a threatening, aggressive, or disturbing manner:
- harassing you;
- following you;
- lying in wait for you;
- putting surveillance on you or monitoring you;
- sending you unwanted gifts or messages.1
The person can commit these acts directly, indirectly, or through a third person, and by any method, device, or other means. The actions must cause you to reasonably fear for your physical safety.1
1 C.G.S. § 46b-16a